How to tell your child of their diagnosis

Lately, I’ve been deeply engaged in working with many families, supporting them through assessments and helping to identify their children’s unique strengths and challenges.

I personally strongly believe in the importance of children understanding their brain’s uniqueness - how it works and all its awesomeness. Recently, I’ve received many questions from parents about how to approach this conversation with their children. So, I’ve compiled a few ideas for you below!

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a bit like a puzzle in your brain that makes reading, writing, and spelling harder. Imagine you have a big box of puzzle pieces, and everyone else has pieces that fit together easily to make words and sentences. But your puzzle pieces are a little mixed up, and it takes more time and effort to fit them together. Even though it can be tricky to figure out the puzzle, it doesn’t mean you’re not smart.

In fact, lots of very clever and successful people also have dyslexia! They just have to find different ways to solve their puzzles. With help from teachers, parents, and special tools, kids with dyslexia can learn to read and write better and do amazing things. So, it’s like having a special brain that works differently, and that’s okay!

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is like having a brain that finds numbers and math a bit tricky. It can make it hard to understand numbers, do math problems, or remember math facts. Imagine your brain is a calculator, but sometimes the buttons get mixed up or don’t work as easily. When you see numbers or try to add, subtract, multiply, or divide, it might take more time and effort to figure out the answer. People with dyscalculia might also find it challenging to understand time, count money, or measure things accurately.

But just like with other differences, having dyscalculia doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It just means you might need to use different ways to learn and understand math. With patience, practice, and support from teachers, parents, and friends, kids with dyscalculia can learn math skills and succeed in many other areas too! Everyone learns in their own special way, and that’s what makes us all unique.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is when your brain has trouble with writing and putting thoughts down on paper. It can make handwriting messy, hard to read, or slow. Imagine your brain is like a pencil that sometimes finds it tricky to make the right shapes and letters neatly. When you try to write, the letters might be all mixed up or hard to space out evenly on the page. People with dysgraphia might also struggle with spelling, organising their ideas in writing, or even holding a pencil comfortably.

But just like with other challenges, having dysgraphia doesn’t mean you’re not smart or creative. With practice, using tools like special pencils or computers, and getting help from teachers and grown-ups, you can find ways to make writing easier and show how clever you really are!

ADHD

ADHD is like having a brain that’s always full of energy and curiosity, making it hard to sit still, pay attention, or control impulses. Imagine your brain is a TV with lots of channels, and it keeps switching channels on its own. Sometimes it’s hard to focus on just one thing because there are so many interesting things going on.

You might feel like you have a lot of energy and want to move around a lot, or you might start thinking about something new before finishing what you were doing. Having ADHD doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It just means your brain works differently. There are many ways to help manage your ADHD, like special strategies, routines, and sometimes medicine. With the right support, kids with ADHD can do great things and use their energy and creativity in amazing ways!

Autism

Autism is like having a unique way of experiencing the world. People with autism might see, hear, and feel things a little differently than others. Imagine your brain is like a supercomputer with special settings. These settings can make you really good at some things, like remembering details, solving puzzles, or focusing on your favourite activities. But they can also make other things, like talking to people or understanding how they feel, a bit harder.

Sometimes, people with autism might find loud noises, bright lights, or big crowds overwhelming. They might also have routines and ways of doing things that make them feel comfortable and safe. Even though autism can make some things challenging, it also comes with special strengths. With love, understanding, and support, people with autism can do incredible things and share their unique talents with the world!

It’s important to remember that how and when you share this information with your child is entirely up to you as a parent. Each child is unique, and you know them best. Providing ongoing support and encouragement will make a big difference as they grow and learn to manage these aspects of themselves.

These diagnoses will be with your children throughout their lives; and they can learn strategies and skills to live fulfilling and successful lives. My role is to help put together the puzzle pieces of your child’s learning preferences, cognitive strengths, and areas needing more support.