Author: Michele Henrick

Rhythmic movement is an important part of my approach to supporting children’s neurological development, primitive reflex integration and nervous system regulation.

Throughout our sessions, children participate in a variety of purposeful movements and activities designed to develop coordination, balance, body awareness and motor control. Towards the end of each session, I incorporate gentle rhythmic movements to help their bodies slow down and transition into a calmer state.

How does rhythmic movement work?

Rhythmic movements involve gentle, repetitive and patterned movements of the body. These movements provide the brain with consistent sensory feedback, helping children develop body awareness and supporting the communication between the brain and body.

Rhythmic movement is also used in some primitive reflex integration approaches. Primitive reflexes are automatic movement patterns that emerge during early development and typically become inhibited as the brain and nervous system mature.

When these reflexes remain active beyond their expected developmental period, they may be associated with difficulties in areas such as posture, coordination, balance and motor control.

Gentle, repetitive movements can be incorporated into a broader programme of reflex-focused activities to support neurological development and more controlled movement patterns.

Why I use rhythmic movement at the end of a session

Many of the activities children participate in during a session involve concentration, physical effort, coordination and sensory processing.

I finish sessions with rhythmic movements because I want children to leave feeling calm, settled and organised.

The repetitive nature of these movements provides a predictable sensory experience that can help children:

• Slow down after physical activity.
• Develop greater awareness of their body.
• Support relaxation and nervous system regulation.
• Transition from an active state into a calmer state.
• Experience gentle, controlled movement.

Every child is different, so I adjust the movements to suit their individual needs and responses.

A calm ending to support development

I believe that supporting children’s development involves more than simply teaching them new movement skills. It is also about helping them understand their bodies, develop control over their movements and recognise when they need to slow down.

By incorporating rhythmic movements into the end of each session, I provide children with an opportunity to finish on a calm and positive note while continuing to support their movement and sensory development.

You can see how sessions with me run on my services page.

What parents say

★★★★★ 5.0 from 3 Google reviews.

Primitive reflex integration with me in Perth starts with an initial appointment of 60 to 90 minutes, then weekly sessions of 45 to 60 minutes. Positive results are usually seen after 5 or 6 weeks, and faster when the exercises are practised at home.

I’m Michele, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner and Brain Gym® Consultant in Perth, and a qualified primary school teacher. This post walks through what happens in the first session and what the weeks after it look like. You can see the full details and prices on my services page.

What happens in the first session

Our first session is all about getting to know your child, discovering their strengths and interests, and understanding your family’s goals. I want your child to feel comfortable, confident and supported as we begin our journey together.

Through gentle, age-appropriate activities, I observe your child’s movement patterns, coordination and primitive reflexes. I also look at their dominant hand, foot and eye to better understand how their brain and body work together to support movement, coordination and learning.

This initial session helps me build a clearer picture of your child’s individual needs and develop a personalised approach to support their development and help them reach their potential.

In the initial appointment, which takes 60 to 90 minutes, I assess brain and body organisation, side dominance and which primitive reflexes need further integration. From there we build an individual plan together.

What the weeks after look like

1. 1Free phone chatoptional
2. 2Initial appointment60 to 90 minutes
3. 3Weekly sessions45 to 60 minutes, plus home play
4. 45 week checkprogress and re-assessment
5. 5Fortnightly or monthlyif needed

How long does primitive reflex integration take?

Positive results are usually seen after 5 or 6 weeks, and faster when the exercises are practised at home. The 5 week check is where I re-assess the reflexes and look at progress with you.

Children usually see me for 6 to 8 weeks on average, depending on what we are working on. Children with a diagnosis, where we are working on more complex symptoms, are looking at around 10 to 12 weeks.

Why home play matters

Sessions are movement and play, and the “home play” in between is what strengthens the new connections. Practising the exercises at home between sessions helps the new pathways strengthen faster.

If you would like a feel for this kind of movement at home, my posts on animal walks and movement breaks are a good place to start.

Face to face or online

I offer face to face appointments in my home office in Perth, which creates a safe and comfortable environment, and online appointments.

Before you book

Not sure if it is right for your child? Start with a free phone chat about what you are noticing.

If you have concerns about your child’s development, check in with your GP or paediatrician too. My work is movement based and sits alongside other support, not instead of it.

Common questions

How long is the first session?

The initial appointment takes 60 to 90 minutes.

How long are the weekly sessions?

Weekly sessions run for 45 to 60 minutes.

When will we see a difference?

Positive results are usually seen after 5 or 6 weeks. Practising the exercises at home between sessions helps the new pathways strengthen faster.

What ages do you work with?

Children from 2.5 to 15 years, and preventative exercises for babies from birth up to 2.5 years.

Do you see children face to face or online?

Both. I see children face to face in my home office in Perth, and I also offer online appointments.

What parents say

★★★★★ 5.0 from 3 Google reviews.

Newborn reflexes are the automatic movements babies are born with. They help a baby move through birth, feed, grasp and begin to move, and as the brain matures most of them are meant to integrate, or fade, by around 4 to 6 months.

I’m Michele, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner and Brain Gym® Consultant in Perth. This post explains the main newborn reflexes, what each one does and when it usually fades. Each reflex has its own page if you would like more detail, and my primitive reflexes page explains them all together.

What are newborn reflexes?

Primitive reflexes are involuntary, automatic responses that develop in the womb and the newborn period. They are controlled by the brainstem, so there is no conscious thought involved. They exist for survival and development in the early months: they help a baby move through birth, feed, grasp and begin to move.

Your baby’s doctor or midwife checks reflexes like these during standard newborn health checks (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby).

The newborn reflexes and what they do

When do newborn reflexes usually fade?

As the brain matures, these reflexes are meant to integrate in sequence, making way for the more mature, controlled movements we use for the rest of our lives. The timings below are the usual ranges, and every baby is different.

1. First few monthsForward TLR
2. Around 4 to 6 monthsMoro reflex
   ATNR
   Palmar grasp (first six months)
3. Around 9 to 11 monthsSTNR, once crawling well
4. First yearSpinal galant reflex
5. First few yearsBackward TLR

What if a reflex does not fade?

Under stress, that sequence can be interrupted and a reflex can be “retained”. Possible reasons include birth method (for example caesarean compared with vaginal delivery), trauma, illness, exposure to toxins, anaesthetics and medications. None of these automatically causes a retained reflex, but they are possible contributors.

When a reflex is retained, the body keeps reacting automatically in situations where a child needs calm, controlled movement, and that can make everyday things like sitting still, writing or catching a ball harder than they should be. My primitive reflexes page lists the signs to look for.

Movement for babies

I work with babies from birth (preventative exercises up to 2.5 years) and children from 2.5 to 15 years. Parents usually come to me once their child has started full-time school, as that is when the struggles become more apparent, but before 5 is ideal because it is more preventative. You can see how sessions run on my services page.

If you have any concerns about your baby’s reflexes or development, talk to your GP, child health nurse or paediatrician. My work is movement based and sits alongside other support, not instead of it.

Common questions

What are the main newborn reflexes?

Rooting, sucking, the Moro (startle) reflex, the palmar grasp reflex, the ATNR, the spinal galant reflex and the tonic labyrinthine reflex (TLR). The STNR appears a little later, at around 4 to 6 months.

When do newborn reflexes go away?

Most are meant to integrate by around 4 to 6 months. The spinal galant reflex usually integrates in the first year, the STNR by around 9 to 11 months, and the backward TLR more gradually over the first few years.

Who checks a newborn’s reflexes?

Your baby’s doctor or midwife checks them during standard newborn health checks.

What ages do you work with?

Children from 2.5 to 15 years, and preventative exercises for babies from birth up to 2.5 years.

What parents say

★★★★★ 5.0 from 3 Google reviews.

Fine motor skills are the small, controlled movements of the hands and fingers: holding a pencil, using scissors, doing up buttons, using cutlery. They depend on a lot that happens further up the body, including posture, shoulder stability and how well the eyes and hands work together.

I’m Michele, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner and Brain Gym® Consultant in Perth. I am also a qualified primary school teacher, and I taught for 15 years before moving into this work. This post shares simple fine motor skills activities to try at home, and what can sit underneath when hand tasks are hard work. You can read more on my handwriting and fine motor skills page.

Big movements before small ones

Crawling games, animal walks and climbing build the shoulder and core stability the hands rely on. So the best fine motor activities often start on the floor and at the playground, not at the table. My post on gross motor skills has more ideas for the big movements.

1. 1Whole bodycrawling, climbing, animal walks
2. 2Core and shouldersa steady base
3. 3Armsreaching and pushing
4. 4Hands and fingersholding, cutting, writing

Fine motor skills activities to try at home

Keep it playful and short. More of the same practice rarely helps if the body is finding it hard.

Signs a child is finding fine motor skills hard

Seeing one or two of these does not mean something is wrong, and children develop at different rates.

1. 2 yearsEats with a spoon
2. 3 yearsStrings items together, like large beads or macaroni
   Uses a fork
3. 4 yearsUnbuttons some buttons
   Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)
4. 5 yearsButtons some buttons

Why some children find fine motor skills hard

There can be many reasons, and often more than one. In my work I often see fine motor and handwriting difficulties alongside retained primitive reflexes. The palmar reflex, the grasp reflex, can affect fine motor skills and pencil grip when it is retained. The ATNR can make handwriting and crossing the midline harder.

Posture matters too. A child who finds it hard to sit upright at a desk, or who prefers W sitting on the floor, is using a lot of effort just to stay stable, which leaves less for the hands.

When it is worth getting checked

If fine motor tasks are holding your child back at school or causing real upset, talk to their teacher, and check in with your GP or paediatrician if you have concerns about their development. An assessment with me can show whether retained reflexes are part of the picture. My work is movement based and sits alongside other support, not instead of it.

You can read how I work on my services page, or get in touch for a free phone chat about what you are noticing in your child.

Common questions

What are examples of fine motor skills?

Holding a pencil, using scissors, doing up buttons and using cutlery, along with threading, building with blocks and doing puzzles.

What is the difference between fine and gross motor skills?

Gross motor skills are the big movements of the whole body, like crawling, running, climbing and balancing. Fine motor skills are the small, controlled movements of the hands and fingers. The two are linked: big movements build the shoulder and core stability the hands rely on.

What age do you work with?

Children from 2.5 to 15 years, and preventative exercises for babies from birth up to 2.5 years.

Do you only see children in Perth?

I see children face to face in my home office in Perth, and I also offer online appointments.

What parents say

★★★★★ 5.0 from 3 Google reviews.

Gross motor skills are the big movements that use the large muscles of the body: crawling, walking, running, jumping, climbing, balancing, throwing and catching. They rely on the brain and body communicating well, knowing where the body is in space, keeping it steady, and using both sides together.

I’m Michele, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner and Brain Gym® Consultant in Perth, and a qualified primary school teacher. This post explains what gross motor skills are, why they matter for school, and simple play ideas to build them at home.

Gross motor skills and fine motor skills

Gross motor skills are the big movements of the whole body. Fine motor skills are the small, controlled movements of the hands and fingers, like holding a pencil, using scissors or doing up buttons. The two are linked: big movements before small ones, because crawling, climbing and animal walks build the shoulder and core stability the hands rely on.

Gross motor skills

• Crawling and walking
• Running and jumping
• Climbing and balancing
• Throwing and catching

Fine motor skills

• Holding a pencil
• Using scissors
• Doing up buttons

1. 1Whole bodycrawling, climbing, animal walks
2. 2Core and shouldersa steady base
3. 3Armsreaching and pushing
4. 4Hands and fingersholding, cutting, writing

Why gross motor skills matter for school

Gross motor skills underpin a child’s ability to sit in a classroom, core muscle strength supports their endurance and focus, and fine motor skills let them hold a pencil and cut with scissors. You can read more on my school readiness page.

Signs a child is finding gross motor skills hard

Seeing one or two of these does not mean something is wrong, and children develop at different rates.

1. 18 monthsWalks without holding on to anyone or anything
   Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help
2. 2 yearsKicks a ball
   Runs
   Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
3. 4 yearsCatches a large ball most of the time
4. 5 yearsHops on one foot

Gross motor activities to try at home

Keep it fun and low pressure. Short and often works better than long practice sessions, and movement breaks through the day all add up.

Where primitive reflexes fit in

In my work I often see balance and coordination difficulties alongside retained primitive reflexes, the automatic movements babies are born with. When a reflex has not fully integrated, the body keeps reacting automatically in situations where a child needs calm, controlled movement. You can read more on my coordination, balance and clumsiness page.

When it is worth getting checked

If your child is falling a lot, has lost skills they used to have, or their coordination is getting in the way of school and play, please check in with your GP or paediatrician. My work is movement based and sits alongside medical care, not instead of it.

You can read how I work on my services page, or get in touch for a free phone chat about what you are noticing in your child.

Common questions

What are examples of gross motor skills?

Crawling, walking, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, climbing, balancing, throwing, catching and riding a bike or scooter.

What age do you work with?

Children of all ages from 2.5 years, and preventative exercises for babies from birth up to 2.5 years.

Can my child see you alongside other professionals?

Yes. My work is movement based and looks at the whole brain and body connection, and many families see me alongside other professionals.

What parents say

★★★★★ 5.0 from 3 Google reviews.

Pencil grip is how a child holds a pencil to draw and write. A comfortable grip lets the hand move freely without tiring, and it depends on much more than the fingers: hand strength, posture and shoulder stability all play a part.

I’m Michele, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner and Brain Gym® Consultant in Perth. I am also a qualified primary school teacher, and I taught for 15 years before moving into this work. Pencil grip is one of the things parents mention to me most, often alongside handwriting and fine motor skills.

How pencil grip usually develops

Most children start by holding a crayon in a whole fist, with the arm doing the work. As the shoulder, hand and fingers get stronger, the grip moves down towards the fingertips, until the pencil rests between the thumb and the first two fingers (often called a tripod grip) and the small finger movements do the writing.

Children develop at different rates, and many write comfortably with a grip that is a little different. What matters most is that the grip is relaxed, the hand does not tire quickly, and writing is not a struggle.

Signs a pencil grip is making writing hard work

Seeing one or two of these does not mean something is wrong, and there can be many reasons for them.

1. 18 monthsScribbles
2. 4 yearsHolds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)
3. 5 yearsButtons some buttons

Why some children find pencil grip hard

A pencil grip depends on more than the fingers. In my work I often see a retained palmar reflex, the grasp reflex, alongside a tight grip. As children grow, they need to develop the ability to open and close their hands independently, isolate finger movements and coordinate their hands for everyday tasks.

Posture matters too. A child who finds it hard to sit upright at a desk, or who prefers W sitting on the floor, is using a lot of effort just to stay stable, which leaves less for the hands. The ATNR can also make handwriting and crossing the midline harder.

Things to try at home

Keep writing practice short and positive. More of the same practice rarely helps if the body is finding it hard.

When pencil grip is worth getting checked

If handwriting is holding your child back at school or causing real upset, talk to their teacher, and check in with your GP or paediatrician if you have concerns about their development. An assessment with me can show whether retained primitive reflexes are part of the picture. My work is movement based and sits alongside other support, not instead of it.

You can read how I work on my services page, or get in touch for a free phone chat about what you are noticing in your child.

Common questions

Should I correct my child’s pencil grip?

Gentle reminders are fine, but if the grip is tight or awkward it usually helps more to build hand strength, posture and shoulder stability first. Play that builds hand strength, drawing on a vertical surface and lying on the tummy to draw all help.

Will more handwriting practice fix a tight grip?

Practice helps when the body is ready for it. If posture, hand strength or a retained reflex is making writing hard work, it usually helps more to work on those first.

Do you only see children in Perth?

I see children face to face in my home office in Perth, and I also offer online appointments.

What parents say

★★★★★ 5.0 from 3 Google reviews.

Staying calm in the middle of a stressful moment with the kids is something I practise every day, and it is not always easy. What I have learnt is that calm starts with us. When we are calm, it is much easier to help a child who is having a hard time.

I’m Michele, a Brain Gym® Consultant and Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner in Perth, and a mum of three. Here is what I come back to when everyone at home is on edge.

Nervous system regulation for kids, in plain terms

Our nervous system has two sides that work in opposite ways. The sympathetic side is “fight or flight”. The parasympathetic side is “rest and digest”. The vagus nerve, the longest nerve in the body, is a major part of the rest and digest side.

The nervous system plays an important role in how children process sensory information, respond to stress and regulate their emotions. When we help a child calm down, we are helping them move back towards rest and digest. It is much easier when we are there ourselves.

Fight or flight

• The sympathetic side
• Gets the body ready to react

Rest and digest

• The parasympathetic side
• The vagus nerve is a major part of it
• Slow breathing, humming and movement help us move back here

Start with the basics

I think of calm in layers. The outer layer is the easy stuff: enough sleep, food and water. It is the first thing to check when the whole house feels wound up.

Slow breathing, humming and singing

Slow, rhythmic, deep breathing, right down into the belly rather than shallow chest breathing, is one of the simplest ways to switch towards rest and digest. Belly breathing is one of the three quick calming exercises I use with my own family.

Speaking and humming help too, because the vagus nerve is connected to the vocal cords. Singing together counts. It is also a lovely way to get through the daily routine with little ones.

Move, and get outside

Exercise helps, both the vigorous kind and the calming kind like yoga or meditation. So does time doing things you enjoy, like being in nature. For children that might be the playground, animal walks in the backyard or a few movement breaks between homework tasks.

Notice what is triggering the stress

This is the gritty part that takes real thought. Am I frustrated at the kids for taking so long, or am I really feeling guilty because I haven’t prepared and still have things to do myself? Am I cross with a child acting out in a shop, or am I worried about what other people are thinking?

Being present matters too. When my number two says “Mum, look at my picture” and I am caught up in my own thoughts, she says it again and again until she is yelling, and then I snap. Being present and understanding what is triggering our stress responses are valuable tools in staying calm.

Repair when calm goes out the window

It will happen. What matters is coming back to it: “Sorry I yelled, I’ve realised how many things I still need to do.” When you realise what you are doing, it does get easier to get a grip on it.

How I help children calm their nervous system

I teach children how to use their breath to help calm and regulate their nervous system. Through breathing exercises and rhythmic movements, we support the connection between the brain and body, helping children develop greater awareness of their physical sensations and emotions.

As children become more aware of how their bodies feel when they are excited, frustrated or overwhelmed, they can begin to recognise these changes and learn strategies to help them feel calmer and more in control. Over time, these skills can help children respond more effectively to their environment and navigate everyday challenges.

What one parent noticed

When your child is often overwhelmed

Here are some signs a parent might notice that their child’s nervous system is overwhelmed:

When the Moro reflex, the startle reflex, is retained, children can be easily overwhelmed, anxious or sensitive to noise and light.

Brain Gym® is a series of simple body movements that assists to create new pathways for the situations that cause stress in the brain and body. It can help children, and it can help parents and people working with children to remain calm and think clearly under pressure. You can read more on my Brain Gym® page.

If you are worried about your child, please check in with your GP too. My work is movement based and sits alongside medical care, not instead of it. You are welcome to get in touch for a free phone chat about what you are noticing.

Is there research behind it? Yes. Primitive reflex integration exercises are researched for their effect on childhood motor and neurological patterns. See the research.

Animal walks are simple movement games where a child moves like an animal: a bear, a crab, a frog. They need no equipment, they use the whole body, and they help build the shoulder and core stability the hands rely on.

I’m Michele, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner in Perth and a qualified primary school teacher. Here are eight fun animal walks to try. They are good to use for home play.

8 animal walks to try

Why animal walks are good for children

• They use the whole body
• They use both sides of the body together
• Along with crawling games and climbing, they build the shoulder and core stability the hands rely on

1. 1Whole bodycrawling, climbing, animal walks
2. 2Core and shouldersa steady base
3. 3Armsreaching and pushing
4. 4Hands and fingersholding, cutting, writing

Tips for making them fun

• Turn them into a game: races down the hallway, follow the leader, or an obstacle course
• Keep it short. A few minutes at a time is plenty
• Go barefoot, and try different surfaces: grass, sand, carpet
• Keep it playful, and stop if anything hurts

When to look a little further

Children all move differently, and some of these will be harder than others. If your child finds most of them very hard, and you are also noticing things like poor balance, toe walking, W sitting or messy handwriting, it can be worth looking at whether retained primitive reflexes are part of the picture.

You can read how I work on my services page, or get in touch for a free phone chat about what you are noticing in your child.

What parents say

★★★★★ 5.0 from 3 Google reviews.

A movement break, often called a brain break, is a short burst of movement between stretches of sitting. For many children it works better than being told to sit still, because the body gets the movement it is asking for and can then settle again.

I’m Michele, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner in Perth and a qualified primary school teacher. I suggest movement breaks during homework, rather than asking for long stretches of sitting still. Here are 12 simple ones to try at home.

Why brain breaks help

For some children, sitting still takes real effort. Their body is working hard just to stay upright and steady, and that effort has to come from somewhere. A few minutes of movement gives the body a reset, so there is more left over for listening, reading and writing.

12 brain breaks to try

How to make movement breaks work

When a child still cannot settle

If your child finds it hard to sit still even with regular movement, and you are also noticing things like W sitting, slumped posture or messy handwriting, it can be worth looking at whether retained primitive reflexes are part of the picture. The STNR in particular is often linked with slumped posture and difficulty sitting still at a desk.

If sitting still is getting in the way at school, talk to your child’s teacher as well. You can read how I work on my services page, or get in touch for a free phone chat.

Play is how young children learn. For little ones, the process is far more important than the product: the exploring, the mess and the trying matter more than what they make at the end.

I’m Michele, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner and Brain Gym® Consultant in Perth, a qualified primary school teacher and a mum of three. Here is why play matters so much in the early years, and some simple ways to make the most of it at home.

What is happening in the brain in the early years

The brain has two sides. The right side is the creative, imaginative side, where empathy and intuition are favoured. The left side looks after language, numeracy, literacy, analysis, logic, planning and time.

The two sides also develop at different times. Between 0 and 3 years, the right side is the lead, or dominant, side. Then from 3 to 6 years, the left side goes through a significant growth period, as described in this child development text on brain development.

Young children often do what feels good right there and then, and cannot always explain why. Movement plays an important role too, in developing postural control, coordination, balance and body awareness. Having integrated reflexes is the first step in a child’s overall development.

1. Play, learning and school
2. Postural control, coordination, balance and body awarenessbuilt through movement
3. Integrated reflexesthe first step

Learning through play: why the process matters more than the product

Movement play that builds the foundations

These are simple things to try at home:

For older children doing homework, movement breaks work on the same idea.

Exercises from my sessions to keep going at home

Some of the exercises we practise together in my sessions are easy to keep going at home:

Name their feelings

Label and acknowledge your child’s feelings. Giving them the words builds pathways for the left side of the brain, the side that looks after language.

Sing it to them

Words are processed in the left side of the brain, while tune and melody are processed in the right. A rewarding time to use this is during routine activities. If you have asked them to put their shoes on two or three times and they are not listening, sing it to them. It helps them tune in, and it brings more joy to the moment for you too.

Signs it is worth a closer look

Seeing one or two of these does not mean something is wrong, and children develop at different rates. If several sound familiar, my school readiness and movement page explains what to look for, and an assessment can show whether retained primitive reflexes are part of the picture.

I work with babies from birth (preventative exercises up to 2.5 years) and children from 2.5 to 15 years. Parents usually come to me once their child has started full-time school, as that is when the struggles become more apparent, but before 5 is ideal because it is more preventative and prepares children for school. You are welcome to get in touch for a free phone chat about what you are noticing in your child.

Is there research behind it? Yes. Primitive reflex integration exercises are researched for their effect on childhood motor and neurological patterns. See the research.