Just as you should not excuse your child from regular chores, you should have reasonable behavioral expectations. If your child misbehaves deliberately, then the consequences should be the same as for any of his siblings. However, you should be aware that not all misbehavior is deliberate. For example, if your child has problems with focusing or sustaining attention, then it is natural for him to lose track of time or forget to do his chores. Help him devise better ways of remembering, such as using a chart to keep track of tasks, rather than repeatedly chastising him for forgetting.

Be careful not to punish your child for his disability. Don't withhold privileges or punish him for academic problems, such as poor grades or forgetting to complete his homework, or for predictable areas of difficulty, such as a messy room or a tendency to lose track of possessions. Over time, you can help your child build skills and become more responsible, but you need to offer guidance and support. You will do better to break down tasks into manageable segments, offer praise when your child does well, and use small incentives to encourage him to succeed in areas that are in his grasp. Keep in mind that children with dyslexia tend to be very inconsistent in performance. Your goal is to help motivate your child to improve. Fear of punishment in a situation where he cannot be sure of his own abilities is demoralizing and can lead to a tendency to give up without trying.

Keep in mind that your child's communication and attention focusing difficulties may lead to confusion on his part. Children with dyslexia tend to be highly imaginative, and they have an inconsistent sense of time; they may confabulate to make up for gaps in understanding. This can lead to disputes over what someone said or did that seem like your child is lying — when in fact the truth is that your child actually believes that he is reporting events accurately. Keep calm and gently question and guide your child to help him sort out remembered from imagined facts; use questions like, “Is it possible that the teacher did say that, but you just didn't hear?”

Do be aware that frustration at school can lead to serious misbehavior. Having empathy for your child does not mean that you should tolerate acts of violence, destruction, or hostility. It is understandable why a child who is hurting inside may vent his rage by smashing a vase, but it is not excusable. But harsh punishment will also be ineffective if the reason your child's misbehavior arises because he feels demeaned and humiliated every day at school, or he is angry because other children make fun of his difficulties — it will only increase the level of your child's anger. You will need to help your child develop better coping strategies and be very consistent with imposing reasonable consequences that your child can directly relate to his behavior. For example, if he breaks something, working to pay the cost of replacement may be a more effective lesson than being grounded or losing privileges. You may need outside help such as family counseling to help understand and address the problems.