When should parents be concerned that their toddler has dyslexia? When should you be worried about speech or letter identification?

Dyslexia can be extremely hard to diagnose in toddlers as many of its symptoms are developmentally common for all toddlers. However, the more traits that are present, the more likely it is that your toddler may need some help. Dyslexia may be diagnosed where there is a combination of traits and a lack of progress over time.

A family history of dyslexia, reading and spelling difficulties, and delayed speech and language development can indicate possible dyslexia. Other early traits include:

• Difficulties with pronunciation of words
• Difficulties in learning and repeating nursery rhymes
• Problems learning the names of shapes and colors
• Problems learning letter names and letter sounds
• Slow in learning to write own name
• Problems with fine-motor skills

The best approach any parent can take is to try to teach their toddlers alpha/numeric and fine motor skills from an early age. Helpful activities include:

• Reading to your toddler daily from 6 months of age
• Point to each word as you read
• Encourage your toddler to join in pointing at pictures and words
• Introduce nursery rhymes or rhyming games from an early age
• Help to build the toddler's vocabulary by introducing new words as often as possible
• Encouraging your toddler to read and write their own first name
• Provide magnet alphabet letters or letter blocks for play
• Encourage drawing, color-in and basic writing skills
• Teach your toddler how to hold pencils and crayons

These activities will not prevent dyslexia, they can however build a base for future intervention strategies. These activities will also enable you as a parent identify and of leading signs of dyslexia. Dyslexia is often not recognized until 2nd or 3rd grade; sometimes even later. If you can identify problems early, your toddler's chances of a happy education will be significantly improved.