Dyslexia affects around 10% of the UK population, yet many families are left without adequate support after diagnosis — navigating an under-resourced school system and an overwhelming marketplace of products that promise more than they deliver. This guide cuts through the noise and focuses on the resources, tools and environmental changes that are genuinely supported by evidence and by the experience of parents who have been there.
Understanding dyslexia beyond reading
Dyslexia is often described primarily as a difficulty with reading and spelling, but its effects extend far beyond the written word. Children with dyslexia frequently struggle with working memory — the ability to hold a sequence of information in mind while completing a task — as well as phonological processing, processing speed and sequencing. This means that dyslexia can affect performance in maths, music and spoken language, not just literacy. Understanding this broader picture is important for parents because it helps explain why some interventions help and others don't. It also counters the damaging myth that dyslexia is purely a reading problem that can be solved by reading more. Dyslexia is a neurological difference that affects how information is processed across multiple domains, and the most effective support takes that full picture into account.
Practical environmental changes at home
Before buying any resources, the most impactful changes are environmental. Reducing the visual complexity of text-heavy materials makes a significant difference for many dyslexic children. Print worksheets and books on cream or pale yellow paper rather than white — the lower contrast reduces the glare that causes letters to appear to blur or move. When choosing fonts for printed materials, opt for OpenDyslexic (available free online) or a clean sans-serif such as Arial, both of which have been designed or adapted to minimise character confusion. Ensure your child's reading and homework space is well-lit and free from competing visual distractions. A reading ruler — a simple, transparent, coloured overlay — can dramatically improve reading comfort and speed for many children and costs less than £5.
Digital tools and assistive technology
Technology is one of the most powerful supports available to dyslexic learners, and much of it is free. Text-to-speech software allows children to listen to written content rather than decode it, removing the effort of reading so they can focus on understanding. On Apple devices, the built-in Speak Screen function works well; Google's Read&Write extension is popular in schools. Speech-to-text tools — again, built into most modern devices — allow children to dictate responses rather than write them, bypassing the spelling barrier entirely. For structured literacy learning, apps such as Nessy, Lexia and Toe by Toe have strong evidence bases and are used widely by specialist dyslexia tutors. If your child's school uses Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams, ensure these accessibility features are enabled on their school account and at home.
Books, workbooks and structured resources
Physical resources still have an important role, particularly for building phonological awareness and vocabulary — skills that underpin reading and spelling development. Structured literacy workbooks that follow a systematic, multisensory approach (teaching through sight, sound, touch and movement simultaneously) are significantly more effective for dyslexic learners than traditional phonics books. Look for workbooks approved by the British Dyslexia Association or developed by specialist dyslexia tutors. At home, the most useful supplementary resources are often not literacy-focused at all — audiobooks, podcasts and documentary content allow dyslexic children to access rich, complex ideas without the barrier of decoding text. Encouraging your child's strengths and interests through accessible media builds the vocabulary and general knowledge that literacy depends on, while keeping their relationship with learning positive.
Summary
Supporting a dyslexic child at home does not require a large budget or specialist training. The most effective interventions combine environmental adjustments, free digital tools and a genuinely positive, patient approach to learning. Every dyslexic child is different — what works brilliantly for one may not suit another — so experiment, observe and follow your child's lead. Send Toys To You stocks a curated selection of dyslexia-specific workbooks, reading tools and sensory resources, all clearly described and labelled for the conditions they support.
→ Explore our Dyslexia resources — from reading rulers and workbooks to sensory tools that support focus and calm during learning
