Hi Mama (and Dad too, if you’re reading!),
If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for answers and support for your child, and you’re not alone. If I could sit across from you with a cup of coffee, I’d tell you that discovering Educational Therapy did not feel like angels singing and light beams from Heaven. It felt more like this:
“If ONE MORE PERSON tells me to try another chart or schedule change …” Because that’s where we were…tired, overwhelmed, and endlessly Googling phrases like “how can I best help my son who has a learning delay?” and “executive function disorder help for kids” at all hours of the day and night.
When Tutoring Wasn’t Enough
By 3rd grade, we had done the whole tutoring routine. Not once. Not twice. We were basically on a tutoring tour of America at this point.
Areas tutoring helped with:
- homework getting done
- short-term boosts
- finishing assignments
But tutoring did not help with:
- the underlying processing issues
- the working memory gaps
- the executive function examples that kept showing up
- the emotional toll of always feeling “behind”
- teaching their brains how to learn
Deep down, we knew our kids didn’t need more worksheets and honestly I didn’t need more worksheets either! They needed help with the brain-based skills that made worksheets possible. We had one teacher who continued talking to my husband and I about NILD Educational Therapy.
What Even Is NILD Educational Therapy?
If you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry, you’re in good company! To be honest, the first time someone said “NILD,” I thought it was jibberish. But as we began to research and talk more with the therapist, we started to see how this type of therapy could be truly beneficial for our kids. NILD Educational Therapy is a cognitive training approach created specifically for struggling learners. It strengthens the underlying neurological processes that my kids didn’t fully have.
What does this look like in real life?
- Homework battles: Starting an assignment but gets distracted within minutes.
- Conversations: They seem “tuned out” or forget what was just said.
- Chores or routines: Following step-by-step instructions can be a challenge without constant reminders.
- Memory struggles: Forgetting school assignments, lunch boxes, or sports gear; difficulty remembering multi-step directions like “Put your shoes away, feed the dog, and brush your teeth”.
There are many other areas that can be affected as well, including processing speed, organization, language and auditory processing, and emotional and behavioral responses. Think of it like: Tutoring = filling buckets vs. Education Therapy = repairing the well. If your child has ever shown signs of an executive function disorder like the ones mentioned above, NILD therapy goes straight to the root of those challenges.
But Let’s Be Honest… It Sounded Intense
As a mom, my first thought was, “Okay, so… this isn’t a quick fix? This is a whole commitment. A long-term, get-your-coffee kind of commitment.” And my second thought was, “Lord, are You SURE this is for us? Because we are tired.”
NILD Educational Therapy means:
- weekly sessions
- trained therapists
- consistent home practice
- investing time, finances, and energy
- believing in slow, steady growth
It felt big, serious, and exactly what our kids needed.
The Moment Everything Became Clear
I’ll never forget when our NILD therapist said, “Your kids aren’t broken. Their brains just need specific training to develop the skills they’re missing. And we can do that.” For the first time in years or maybe even ever, someone wasn’t “concerned.” She was confident. Hopeful. Calm. Like she had seen a hundred kids just like ours, and watched them thrive.
If this feels like your journey, take a deep breath. You’re doing a good job, and there are answers, even if they don’t feel clear yet. Reach out to Charity at The Pearl Center at (864) 675-9200; she’ll be happy to guide you through the next steps to get the help your child truly deserves.