Dysspelling: how to help my child

Does your child mix up letters, leave out words or make spelling mistakes in every sentence?
These difficulties may be a sign of dysorthographia, a persistent disorder of written language.
Faced with this, many parents wonder: how can I help my child?
Don’t worry, solutions exist.
With appropriate support, it is entirely possible to make progress and enjoy writing.

Understanding dysorthographia to act better

Before helping, it is important to understand.
Dysorthographia is not simply a lack of attention.
It is a neurological disorder that affects the way the brain encodes and retrieves words in writing.

The child often knows the rules but cannot apply them.
Some letters get reversed, agreements are forgotten, and sounds are written differently.
According to INSERM, this disorder affects around 4 to 5% of children, often alongside dyslexia or dyspraxia.

💡 The goal is not to “correct mistakes”, but to learn to write differently.

The essential role of the speech and language therapist

The first step is to consult a speech and language therapist.
They will make a precise diagnosis and set up personalised rehabilitation.
Sessions focus on recognising sounds, memorising words and structuring sentences.

The speech and language therapist uses phonological games, visual dictation and digital tools.
The earlier support begins, the more visible the progress.

Platforms such as Dys’tap.io make it possible to extend this work at home through interactive exercises in voice dictation and assisted writing.

Tools to support at home

Helping a child with dysorthographia also means creating a supportive and structured environment.
Here are some simple and effective tools:

The printable sheets available at LesDys.fr or Dysorthographie.fr also offer free activities to print.

Turning mistakes into learning

Mistakes are valuable: they reveal how the child’s brain works.
Rather than punishing a mistake, it is important to observe the type of error.
Is it phonetic? Visual? Grammatical?

👉 Example:

• “Shien” instead of “chien” shows an auditory confusion.
• “Les garçon” without an “s” indicates an agreement that is not yet automatic.

The aim is to correct with purpose, not with punishment.
Every success deserves to be celebrated: a correct word, a correct sentence, a dictation without tears.

Making writing fun

For a child with dysorthographia, writing can quickly become a source of anxiety.
It is therefore important to bring back enjoyment into learning.

Some effective ideas:

• writing short comic strips or family newspapers;
• playing “mystery word” with friends;
• using fun apps such as Mot d’Ortho;
• doing fun themed dictations (superheroes, animals, etc.).

The aim is not perfection, but progress.
Making writing lively restores confidence and the desire to learn.

School, a key partner

The school should be involved from the moment of diagnosis.
A Personalised Support Plan (PAP) can be put in place.
It allows concrete adjustments: extra time, an adapted font, or assisted proofreading.

Teachers can also use visual aids and value oral participation.
Some schools draw on the resources of Ladyspraxie.fr to promote inclusive teaching.

✏️ Academic success depends above all on open communication between parents, teachers and therapists.

The role of parents day to day

Parents are the first source of support.
Encouraging every effort, praising progress and avoiding comparison with other children are essential.
Creating a positive routine helps to stabilise learning:

• read together for 10 minutes a day;
• write a postcard to a relative;
• do dictations of fun words.

These small, consistent and caring gestures build lasting confidence.

In summary

Knowing how to help a child with dysorthographia means first understanding that it is not a lack of willpower.
With the right support, the right tools and plenty of kindness, they can regain enjoyment and pride in writing.

🌟 The goal is not to write without mistakes, but to write without fear.