Sensory Reflexes

27/06/2025

Not just fidgety… not just distracted…

When the eyes jump instead of track smoothly, it can be a sign of a retained reflex interfering with visual processing.

This can impact reading, focus, and even how confidently a child moves through space.

The signs are often subtle — but they matter.

25/06/2025

Not just clumsy… not just tired…

These motor reactions might be signs of retained primitive reflexes.

When reflexes hang around beyond the age they should be integrated, they can impact movement, coordination, and learning.

Understanding what you’re seeing is the first step to helping a child move with ease, confidence, and control...all elements we need for a calm life and mind 🩵🖤

16/05/2025

Many times I had to do the 'walk of shame' at school pick-up; they'd call me over and I would listen to the teacher relay a 'bad' / 'frustrating' / 'not great' day at school due to him being:

'hyper active' or 'over excited' during the day...
..and (would you believe it), but after being told off / disciplined and loosing [vital] playtime...he hit rock bottom and went into meltdown.

Sound familiar?

Yes, children do need to learn calmness and patience..but it takes time, it takes space, and an understanding the movement matters xx

17/04/2025

✨ Movement Matters ✨

Understanding how movement builds the brain from the bottom up is essential in recognising how early intervention can help reduce challenges associated with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

In England, statistics show a significant increase (again, each year since 2016) in school pupils requiring SEN support for 2024.

The need for effective movement-based support for both cognitive and physical development in children is paramount.

It will take time and dedication to help change this trend - and as a collective, there are so many ways to support our litte ones 🖤

16/04/2025

Did you know that children with a retained STNR reflex might exhibit behaviours that are similar to those seen in ADHD?

Both conditions can lead to challenges in staying seated, focusing on tasks, and navigating the classroom environment.

It's essential to recognise that these retained STNR characteristics may sometimes be misunderstood as ADHD.

By understanding this connection, we can better support our children in their learning journey.

Interested in learning more?

13/12/2024

The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) helps develop neck refinement, overall muscle tone and postural stability.

A retained TLR can significantly affect a child's development and daily functioning.

1. Balance and Coordination Issues:
Children may struggle to maintain balance and coordination, which affects their ability to perform gross motor tasks like running, jumping, or participating in sports ⚽️

2. Postural Stability Problems:
With a retained TLR, children often have difficulty maintaining an upright posture. This can lead to slouching or struggling to sit still for long periods 🫨

3. Difficulty with Spatial Awareness:
Children might have challenges understanding spatial relationships or how to navigate their environment, affecting their ability to judge distance and perform movements like climbing or jumping…and regular Travel Sickness 🤢

4. Learning Challenges:
The TLR can impact a child's ability to focus and learn new information. They may have trouble with tasks that require fine motor skills, such as writing or using scissors ✂️

5. Emotional Regulation:
Children affected by a retained TLR may experience difficulties in regulating their emotions. They might become easily frustrated or overwhelmed, especially in situations requiring physical activity 😫

6. Swimming Challenges:
In a pool setting, these effects can manifest as difficulty with buoyancy, coordination during strokes, and overall comfort in the water. They may struggle to control their body position, which is crucial for successful swimming 🏊🏼‍♀️

7. Social Interactions:
Difficulties in movement and coordination can impact a child's confidence, making social interactions, sports, and group activities more challenging 🫣

Understanding these effects can help us create targeted interventions to support children with retained TLR, enhancing their physical, emotional and behavioural health and overall development. If you need more details or strategies for support, just let me know xx

05/12/2024

The Moro reflex is a baby reflex that should fade between 4-6months.
When retained beyond this age it can have several implications that trigger an undesired response to stress or changes in their environment.

A retained Moro reflex influences how a child perceives and responds to the world around them - it impacts their emotional regulation and coping strategies, especially when they are anxious or in a situation out of their control.

Early Intervention is key in helping a child with a retained Moro Reflex - once reduced and then integrated, they will have response flexibility and greater self-soothing capabilities 🩵🖤

21/11/2024

The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) is a primitive reflex that develops head control and posture - it connects the different planes of the body: top + bottom / front + back.

Some common physical symptoms associated with a retained TLR reflex include:

❗️Poor Posture:
such as slouching or difficulty maintaining an upright position.

❗️Balance Issues:
struggle with balance and coordination, leading to frequent falls or difficulty in activities that require stability, like riding a bike.

❗️Difficulty with Motor Skills:
difficulties in gross motor skills, such as running, jumping, or climbing, as well as fine motor skills, such as writing or using scissors.

❗️Tension and Stiffness:
in the muscle groups, particularly in the neck and limbs, can be observed, leading to overall stiffness in movement.

❗️Poor Spatial Awareness:
trouble understanding their body in space, which can impact their ability to navigate their environment effectively.

❗️Overly Active or Hypoactive:
Some children may display hyperactivity, while others may appear sluggish or lethargic, indicating potential issues with self-regulation.

❗️Difficulty with Head Movements:
Problems with turning the head or looking up/down, which can affect visual tracking.

❗️Processing issues:
which can manifest as over- or under-reactivity and sensitivity to sensory input (e.g light, sound, touch).

❗️Difficulty Following Directions:
Tasks requiring following multi-step directions may pose challenges due to difficulties with organisation and processing motor commands.

If you suspect your child has a retained TLR, get in touch for a chat and assessment, where we can look at game based interventions and exercises to support their motor development.

05/09/2024

🌟 Did you know that the symptoms of ADHD and a retained Spinal Galant reflex often overlap?

Many children experience difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can lead to an ADHD diagnosis.

However, it’s essential to consider the possibility of a retained Spinal Galant reflex, which can manifest in similar behavioural patterns.

The Spinal Galant reflex is a primitive reflex that, when retained, can cause restlessness, trouble focusing, and emotional dysregulation – symptoms frequently seen in children with ADHD.
This similarity can lead to misdiagnosis, potentially resulting in inappropriate treatments or interventions.

Recognising and addressing retained primitive reflexes is crucial for achieving a holistic understanding of a child’s behaviour and development.
Comprehensive assessments, including reflex evaluations, can lead to more accurate diagnoses and tailored support strategies.

Awareness and understanding can make a significant difference.

02/09/2024

🖋️ The hand-mouth babkin reflex is a crucial component in the development of essential writing skills.

The newborns linked mouth and hand movements lay the groundwork for fine motor skills, as it encourages babies to explore their environment through tactile experiences.

This exploration is critical for developing hand-eye coordination and dexterity, both of which are indispensable for writing.

As children mature, this reflex transitions into more complex motor skills required for holding a pencil, controlling movements, and forming letters.

The refinement of these skills not only supports the physical act of writing but also enhances cognitive functions such as language development and memory retention.

Recognising the implications of the hand and mouth reflexes, gives us and understanding of how important they are to early childhood development and the motor skills needed for so many daily activities.

22/06/2024

𝟭:𝟭 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲

Recently I have been working with babies on a 1:1 basis using a combination of swimming and movement therapy - 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺.

With the focus being on following your baby's natural movements and rhythms in the water, we have named this unique approach '𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄'.

After working with a number of families to refine the session, I am excited to officially open up Baby Flow to more families.

𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀:

• We know that movement in water has numerous physical and cognitive benefits for babies, including improved muscle development, coordination, and confidence.

• Additionally, movement focused therapy has been shown to be effective in helping babies regulate their emotions, build strong brain connections, and improve their overall well-being.

• Some parents want a 1:1 experience for their baby OR they may not be able to get into water themselves for a number of reasons

• In addition to teaching swimming, I am also a movement and vision therapist specialising in birth trauma for babies and retained reflexes for older children - this means I work with your baby on a complete unique 1:1 basis.

• My workspace is a cosy log cabin in my garden with a 2-meter round hot tub set at 35 degrees

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𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦, 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.

The cost is £30 for 30minutes for the in-water session.

If you’re interested in learning more about- please complete the form 💛🩵

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13/06/2024

The rise in children with special educational needs serves as a stark reminder of the crucial role movement plays in our overall well-being 💗

Whether it be physical activities or sensory play, movement is essential for every child’s development🌻

It’s time we prioritise and promote the importance of movement in all aspects of education and development❗️

When a child has unique needs and abilities, exploring movements that help them relax, connect and be at ease with themselves and their environment is paramount 🌻