By Albine Klawatsch, Occupational Therapist, Certified Dyslexia Trainer

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Why not including a little bit of holiday spirit in the well-known game Sudoku? And during sorting Santa, bells, snowflakes, gingerbread men, candles and presents, your child will be developing many skills.

I highly recommend Sudoku puzzles for people with dyslexia or dyscalculia. It both strengthens logical thinking and helps children with dyslexia to internalize abstract symbols in an entertaining way.

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According to the AFS-Method (Attention, Function and Symptom) I use during dyslexia training, the following benefits can result:

Attention training: It’s necessary to keep the attention for a certain predictable period. The game takes a few minutes, the optimal duration to foster attention.

Function training: During the game, optic difference and optic seriality will be trained. These are some basic sensory functions which are important for writing, reading, and calculation.

Symptom training: Logical thinking is promoted in playful way. If you continue playing Sudoku with numbers, internalized and permanent counting are practiced.

The motivation is high, because quick success is possible and it’s so much fun to find the tricky answer. Your child can independently solve the puzzle as the app provides visual feedback if you place the item wrong. A funny Santa laugh demonstrates when the item category is finished and helps to keep players motivated. Children can control it easily on their own and music clearly indicates the end of the game.

Like all of the apps we recommend monthly, your child won’t even realize they’re developing skills while they have fun!

Albine Klawatsch, M.Sc

Albine Klawatsch, M.Sc

Occupational Therapist, Certified Dyslexia Trainer

Albine is an Occupational Therapist at The Essential Learning Group, working in different cities around Shanghai. She has extensive experience in the field of neuro-pediatrics, in particular cerebral palsy. She has also treated children with mild to severe developmental delays.