06/02/2025
What if I told you that your child’s perceived ‘clumsiness,’ trouble focusing, or emotional outbursts weren’t just “behavioural issues”—but the brain asking for help in ways it only knows how?
Enter primitive reflexes—those automatic movements babies are born with. They help them survive and grow in the early months of life. Yet, sometimes, these reflexes don’t fully integrate. And when they stay active longer than they should, they interfere with motor coordination, learning, attention, and even emotional regulation.
Here’s the magic: The body and brain are wired for healing. And often, the best therapy is the kind that doesn’t feel like therapy at all. Let’s talk about three sensory-rich activities that not only bring joy—but help integrate retained primitive reflexes in the most natural, playful ways.
💧Water Play – The Liquid Reset
Whether it’s swimming, splashing in the bath, or pouring water between cups, water has an ancient, almost universal calming effect on the nervous system. For children with retained reflexes—especially the Moro or Fear Paralysis Reflex—water play can mimic the rhythmic movements they missed out on as infants.
Try this:
💧Float on the back while humming (stimulates the vagus nerve).
💧Kickboard races or dolphin dives (boost core control and symmetry).
💧Or just good old-fashioned water balloon fights—because laughter helps too!
Cultural Component: In many cultures, rivers and baths are not just hygienic but sacred rituals. Think of Japanese onsen baths, Indian holy river dips, or Māori wai ceremonies—water is healing.
🍲Sensory Cooking – Stirring the Brain Awake
Chopping, stirring, smelling, tasting ... cooking isn’t just about food—it’s a full-body sensory experience that activates multiple brain regions at once.
For a child with retained Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) or ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex), cooking tasks like crossing the midline to pass ingredients, or kneading dough to activate proprioception, can be subtly therapeutic.
Try this:
🍲Make samosas or dumplings with kids—folding, pinching, and crossing hands.
🍲Let them stir batters with both hands—encouraging bilateral coordination.
🍲And don’t forget the spices—aromas like cinnamon or cardamom stimulates the olfactory bulb, which links to memory and mood.
Cultural Component: Food traditions are deeply sensory. From the grinding of spices in Indian kitchens to the rolling of tortillas in Mexico, cooking connects generations while stimulating neural growth.
🪇Traditional Games – Ancient Neuro-gymnastics
Remember Hopscotch, Duck Duck Goose, or Kabaddi? These games weren’t just fun—they were neurodevelopment gold. Running, turning, tagging, and falling—all help regulate the vestibular system and integrate the Spinal Galant or STNR (Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex), which can affect posture and attention.
Try this:
🪇Create an indoor obstacle course using pillows and chairs.
🪇Play “Statue Dance” (freeze when music stops) to build body awareness.
🪇Introduce cultural games like Palo Sebo, El Gato y el Ratón, or even traditional Māori poi movements. These aren’t just cultural relics—they’re brain workouts in disguise.
Why It Matters
Children with retained primitive reflexes often feel off—their bodies don’t respond the way they expect. Labels like lazy, disobedient, or overly sensitive often get thrown around in describing their characteristics. When we offer them movement-rich, culturally engaging, sensory experiences, we’re giving them a chance to catch up, to feel at home in their bodies again. So next time your child is knee-deep in water play, stirring spices into a pot or racing barefoot across the garden—smile. Because they’re not just playing. They’re rewiring.
References:
https://sensoryhealth.org/node/2060
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8394673/
https://masscenters.com/blog/cooking-with-kids/
https://ijrah.com/index.php/ijrah/article/view/306
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/3/e20182058/38649/The-Power-of-Play-A-Pediatric-Role-in-Enhancing?autologincheck=redirected
https://stnicks.org.au/news/the-benefits-of-water-play-for-childrens-development/
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c4cf/51b30d70451e5c28cfd8f92b56f33d758be3.pdf
https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/accept-pain-for-change/202404/the-art-of-cooking-teaching-kids-emotional-and-physical-health
https://aifs.gov.au/resources/short-articles/calming-body-calming-mind-sensory-strategies-children-affected-trauma
