There is an old sayings that states: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Even though it is an old saying, it's a true statement. Everyone must have some fun each and everyday. To the dyslexia student this often seems like a dream. Much of his day is spent spending time after class while the others go out to play, or staying after school is out for the day for extra tutoring. Life can be overwhelming at this point to a young, energetic youngster who needs to let off steam. While a physical activity, such as individual or team sports is important for any child, it is especially helpful for those students with dyslexia. Playing sports, being in the band, hobbies, or any team effort allows the dyslexia child to achieve normalcy.

Follow up:

When greeting a dyslexia student for the first time, it is always appropriate to inquire about his interests and activities. Of course, note must be taken of his language skills, developmental milestones, reading and writing and other academic aspects of his life, but to know of his special interests and activities allow you to know the mental and peer relations of the child. Too often the entire focus on this child is fixated on improving academic understanding and performance. Testing and accommodations are definitely important, but are extremely time consuming. The student often believes that he is doomed to a life of one study session after another and this causes him to feel apart from the group of his peers. He’s not like the other kids. A feeling of doom pervades his thoughts, and he may well infer that he is not normal. To add to this discrepancy is the frequent teasing and bullying caused by his inability to be like the others but is withheld from normal school activities such as recess. Plus, if he is allowed to play sports, he must worry about keeping his grades, which are probably mediocre, high enough to permit him to play on the team. A situation of high stress is placed upon the child.

Playing sports bridges the stressful classroom experiences of the dyslexia and the tension caused in the classroom. Therefore, sports will give an outlet for school-related stress and a new identity of the playing field that the child will share with others.

Parents should weigh these factors when considering the choices: “Should my child play sports which may not help after graduating?” or “Should my child play sports in order to free his mind from stress and allow mental interaction with others?” In considering these factors, the parents should consider that athletics puts the child in a position where they are equal to their peers, help each other, and learn to cooperate. If the parents decide to make athletics a part of their child’s life, they need to realize that there are commitments for both the child and them. The parents should support the child by their presence at games and matches. They will need to carefully schedule appointments and tutoring times. Sports can improve relationships with teachers, and can help to motivate a student to improve the kind of organizational skills they need to succeed academically.