What I wish churches knew about dyslexic children

Anyone who has spent much time in church will know that it’s a pretty reading-heavy place. From being encouraged to open and follow along in our Bibles each week, to the way that mature faith can sometimes be measured by regular Bible reading, church life is full of words. Even our songs, prayers and liturgy can often depend on reading from a screen or service sheet. Church can be very wordy, and for some, these words can feel inaccessible.

The British Dyslexia Association estimates that around 10% of the population are dyslexic, yet many of our churches with their strong emphasis on reading, are often not structured in way that make participation easy. For dyslexic children and their parents, this can mean that church, the very place designed to nurture faith, becomes a challenge or even a chore.

Encountering Jesus is not limited to those who find reading easy

Yet Scripture tells us that “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14) not text. Encountering Jesus is not limited to those who find reading easy. Your dyslexic child bears the Image of God just as fully as anyone else. While dyslexia affects how language is processed, it in no way lessens a person’s ability to know, love, or follow God. If “faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17), then how might we help dyslexic children to thrive in their faith and in church life?

Celebrate difference

The first thing we can do is to celebrate and acknowledge the way that God has uniquely created your child. Dyslexia doesn’t mean your child can’t read; it means that their brain connects sounds and letters differently. Reading may take more effort but understanding and imagination are often deep and rich as a result. This ‘different wiring’ can often bring remarkable gifts; dyslexic thinkers are frequently described as being creative, intuitive and having the gift of seeing the bigger picture and making connections others might miss. Parents, and the whole church family, can affirm these gifts and empower dyslexic children to contribute to church life in ways that reflect their strengths. Could your child be involved in church life through music, art, storytelling or through visual design/presentations?

Read more:

5 steps to help Christian young people with additional needs once they hit 18

Autism, meltdowns and shutdowns – practical advice for Christian parents

Rethinking disobedience when your child has ADHD

Be honest about the challenge

Whilst celebrating the giftings of dyslexic children, it’s also okay to name that it can be hard. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. The joy of the Christian faith is that God can work through our limitations and challenges in wonderful ways. I’ve also found that sometimes less reading can lead to deeper reflection, thinking carefully about a small passage of Scripture rather than reading through long passages. Dyslexic children can engage with Scripture differently, but it can be just as meaningful.

Use multimedia and variety

Churches can be slow to change, but where possible, encourage the use of audio, visual and interactive resources. It is often the case that incorporating these things in our church services rarely help only dyslexic children but rather enrich the whole congregation. This is certainly something that can be utilised at home also. Watching video Bible stories before Sunday services, using audio Bibles during family devotions, and making faith discussions conversational rather than written can make things less challenging for dyslexic children. Drawing or building a story scene in Lego can be as much an act of reflection as filling in a worksheet or journal and can even encourage greater creativity across the whole family.

You raising awareness can also spark wider creativity in church life

Music is another powerful tool. We all remember songs that we learnt years ago. Songs rooted in Scripture, like those of Awesome Cutlery for younger children or Shane & Shane Psalms for older ones can help children internalise God’s Word. Add the songs your church regularly sings to a family playlist for the car or kitchen so your child already knows them and can join in confidently in worship without having to focus on the words on the screen.

Partner with your church leaders

Does your child’s kids or youth worker know that they are dyslexic? Many dyslexic young people know the stress of going round the circle and taking turn to read out loud. By this point in the session, a dyslexic child is counting ahead to practice before it’s their turn and finds the whole experience very stressful. Simply being aware of that anxiety can help leaders change the pattern, perhaps reading in pairs or choosing volunteers instead.

You raising awareness can also spark wider creativity in church life, encouraging the use of images, videos and varied ways of responding to Scripture in groups and services. A small conversation can make a big difference to inclusion.

Speak grace, not shame

Dyslexia is often tangled with feelings of frustration, guilt or shame, especially where a child finds school a tricky environment to be in. Church language can unintentionally deepen that when ‘faithfulness’ is equated with lots of reading or intense Bible study. As parents, you can help to rewrite that story.

In your conversations after church, focus on what your child notices, the connections that they made and the questions they want to ask. Celebrate their insights and challenge the idea that spiritual growth only looks one way.

you get to model a slower, deeper way: one that values character over speed, wonder over performance and grace over perfection

So, if you are the parent of a dyslexic child, take heart. God has not made a mistake giving you the child you have. Their way of seeing the world – the colours, patterns and stories they notice – is part of the good work God is doing within them.

As you walk with them through spelling tests and Sunday readings, through frustration and joy, remember that God is shaping them into something beautiful. He who began a good work in your child will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6). In a world, and sometimes a church, that prizes quick readers and tidy writing, you get to model a slower, deeper way: one that values character over speed, wonder over performance and grace over perfection.