When one child is diagnosed with dyslexia, many parents naturally start to look at their younger children a little more closely.
You may wonder:
“Am I overthinking this?”
“What if I miss the signs?”
“Should I get my younger child screened too?”
These questions are common and completely understandable. Here is what you need to know about navigating this journey with your younger children.
Dyslexia frequently runs in families. At DAS, we often see siblings who experience similar learning challenges.
In fact, many parents realise only after their child’s diagnosis that they themselves struggled with reading or spelling when they were younger.
This does not mean every sibling will have dyslexia. But it does mean it is worth paying closer attention to your younger child’s early literacy development.
If an older sibling has dyslexia, we strongly recommend screening younger siblings as early as the end of Nursery 2 or the start of Kindergarten 1.
While dyslexia is not formally diagnosed in children under the age of six, early screening can highlight whether a child may need additional support with early literacy skills.
DAS offers free online preschool screenings for K1 and K2 children. These screenings help determine whether:
• Your child is meeting expected literacy milestones
• There may be early learning gaps
• Your child could benefit from the DAS Preschool Programme
Learning differences can show up before formal reading begins. Some early signs to watch for include:
Letter Recognition: Difficulty recognising or forming letters.
Phonics: Trouble remembering letter sounds (e.g., struggling to associate letter ‘a’ with the /a/ sound in “apple”).
Retention: Forgetting what they learned in school or at home.
Sight Words: Difficulty recalling common words such as she, the, or you.
Avoidance: Showing avoidance for reading, spelling and writing activities
Speak to your child’s teacher
Teachers may be able to share observations about your child’s literacy development and provide an update on their learning progress in school.
Request a screening
A DAS preschool screening can provide helpful insight into your child’s early literacy skills. During the screening, our Educational Therapists will advise whether your child is on track or if additional support may be beneficial.
Taking this step can provide clarity and peace of mind.
Early support ensures that learning remains a positive, confident experience for your child.
Register for Preschool Screening now!
Click here to find out more about the Preschool Programme.
Or take a look at this Parent Checklist.
Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) is today a vibrant social service organisation with over 250 full-time staff who provide a wide array of services for individuals with dyslexia and others who learn differently in Singapore.
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