How can I start preparing Aiden for this? Any help and advice would be most appreciated!
Hi Madoosa,
Disclaimer: I haven't read the other responses - and I'm not sure from your question whether you're asking how to prepare A for N reading higher-level books than A *for now* or if you're asking how to prepare A for understanding he has dyslexia etc (if you find out that he does have a reading challenge of some sort).
Just my perspective, but as you continue to search for answers re what is the challenge, I think you'll find it's important to share the info you can with A so he'll understand why reading is difficult for him.
Re the siblings and reading skills: First, it's very *very* early in life to be drawing a conclusion that N will always be a higher-level reader... even if A is dyslexic. I also wouldn't stress that it might cause issues between siblings or that they will even care or notice - until that happens (if it happens).
Among my three kids, there are very different academic abilities (and other life abilities). My EG ds is dysgraphic and has an expressive language disorder - learning how to write (not just handwriting) has been a bit of a journey - a very tough journey for him. My oldest dd (younger than ds) writes voluminously - her biggest challenge with writing is how to turn it off and how to break up her paragraphs. When she is given a writing assignment in creative fiction, she doesn't write 1-2 pages, she writes chapter after chapter. She obviously is a much more adept, talented creative writer than my ds will ever be... but neither one of them really cares or thinks much about it. On the flip side ds is accelerated in math and dd struggles with it. Again, it's a non-issue between them, other than when I am busy and ask ds to answer a math question for his sister and he doesn't want to be bothered with it.
In reality, my ds has compared his writing more to his peers at school in his grade/classes instead of comparing it to his siblings. And my math-challenged dd really hasn't spent much time comparing her math output to anyone at all.
When my kids are worried about their writing or their math etc - it's usually because they aren't able to complete their work up to either the teacher's expectations or their interpretation of the teacher's expectations... and when that happens I handle it by reassuring them that it's effort that counts in life, that we all have strengths and challenges, and that we're all different.
With my 2e ds who is dysgraphic/etc I share stories of real-life people with similar disabilities who have been successful in life, and I talk to him a lot about life after school vs life during school years.
Best wishes,
polarbear
