It is vitally important that your child also have time in his life for rest and relaxation. The tension, effort, and stress that he experiences at school make it especially important for him to have time to simply let go, and not have to worry about academics and schoolwork. If he is outgoing and sociable, he will want to have time to hang out with his friends. Introverted children have a strong need for time alone, sometimes seemingly doing nothing; for them, this is important time to recharge. Most children need a little bit of both — time with friends and time alone.

Individuals with dyslexia generally do not perform well under stress. In fact, many children will have periods in which they seem to do quite well, alternating with periods when their reading and writing regresses. When their skill level seems to inexplicably deteriorate, it is often related to stress or fatigue.

The irony is that your child needs to work harder than his peers to complete the same tasks, yet he is particularly prone to mistakes and confusion when his energy levels are low. So staying up late to study is often the worst thing that your child can do. Thus, as a parent, you need to make sure that your child has time to rest and relax. Each child has a different pattern; you need to observe your child to get a sense of his energy cycles. For some kids, it is important to do homework right away after they get home from school, as they tend to be too tired to do it later on. Other kids really need to take a break to recoup their energy after a trying day at school. Some children will fade early in the evening, and need an early bedtime. Other children are night owls who seem to get a burst of energy as the evening wears on, and may do better with a short nap in the afternoon after school, postponing homework until after dinner.

Your child may also benefit from learning some techniques for stress relief. Yoga, stretching, tossing a light Koosh ball or Nerf ball, or deep breathing are all good ways to help let go of tension and anxiety. Help your child learn what works best for her, and develop habits of self-awareness and self-monitoring. Learn these techniques for yourself, too — you will be a better and more nurturing parent if you also make sure to take time for rest and relaxation for yourself.