10 warning signs your child might be dyslexic - and how to help them

Though dyslexia is common, it's not always picked up and can be misunderstood. The learning difficulty can mean that your child is struggling with reading, writing and understanding overall.

However, if picked up early your child can get the support they need. This is why it's vital to understand the signs which could help identify whether your child has dyslexia.

Vasilii Kiselev, CEO and co-founder of Legacy Online School, an online education platform that provides high-quality online education has put together a list of signs to look out for so that your child gets the help they need.

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1. Struggling with nursery rhymes

If your child struggles to learn or remember nursery rhymes, it could be more than just a temporary issue. Difficulty with rhyming may indicate a challenge with sound recognition, a key reading skill that is often impacted by dyslexia.

2. Little interest in letters or words

Children with dyslexia may love listening to stories but often show little interest in letters or words.

"They’re drawn to the story itself but have difficulty connecting with written language," says Vasilii. "This can lead to early struggles with reading."

3. Alphabet aversion

Learning to sing or recite the alphabet is a common early milestone, but for children with dyslexia, it can be a challenging task. If your child has noticeable difficulty remembering or singing their ABCs, it may be worth paying closer attention.

4. Speech mix-ups

These can be endearing yet telling, such as when a child says "cubumber" instead of "cucumber" or "flutterby" for "butterfly," indicating possible speech or language difficulties.

5. Rhythm roadblocks

These may arise in children with dyslexia, who often struggle to keep a simple rhythm, like clapping to the beat, pointing towards potential issues with sequencing and auditory processing associated with the condition.

6. Two-step trouble

This is evident when a child finds it hard to follow multi-step instructions, such as "put the toys in the box, then place the box on the shelf," which can overwhelm them and indicate challenges with following sequences, often linked to dyslexia.

7. Forgetting familiar names

This is common among children with dyslexia, who might find it difficult to remember names of known people, colours, or objects; this forgetfulness isn't due to inattention but rather to linking problems between names and the concepts they represent, explains Vasilii.

8. Directional confusion

This indicates more than typical learning errors if a child regularly mixes up words like "up" and "down"; this difficulty is prevalent in dyslexia and can signal early spatial awareness challenges.

9. Family history

A family history of dyslexia or reading difficulties can increase the chances that a child will encounter similar obstacles. Genetics often play a role, although it's not a certainty, which is why keeping an eye out from an early stage is crucial.

10. Good days and bad days

Children with dyslexia might experience inconsistent performance, seemingly having "good" and "bad" days for no apparent reason. Factors such as fatigue or stress can impact their concentration and behaviour, explains Vasilii.

Vasilii emphasises the importance of early detection: "Identifying dyslexia early on allows parents and educators to introduce support strategies that target a child’s specific needs, rather than letting them struggle silently or lose confidence in themselves. When children feel understood and supported, they begin to realise that their difficulties with reading or writing are just one part of their learning profile, not a reflection of their intelligence."

He continues: "Early intervention can help them develop the skills they need while preserving their natural curiosity and love for learning. Targeted support, such as phonics-based reading programs, multisensory learning methods, and assistive technology, can open up pathways to success that might otherwise feel blocked.

"But perhaps most importantly, when we acknowledge and address dyslexia from the start, we’re sending a powerful message that every child learns differently - and that’s okay."