Tag: education

What are Primitive Reflexes?

~ Michele Henrick ~ Leave a comment

Primitive reflexes are automatic, stereotyped movements directed from the brainstem and executed without cortical involvement. These reflexes are crucial for a newborn’s survival and development, but are typically integrated or inhibited as the nervous system matures.

Examples of Primitive Reflexes

  • Moro Reflex: Often called the “startle reflex,” it’s triggered by sudden movements or loud noises.
  • Palmar Grasp Reflex: Causes an infant to close their hand around anything that touches their palm.
  • Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR): Also known as the “fencing posture,” it’s observed when the infant’s head turns to one side.
  • Rooting Reflex: Helps the infant find the nipple for feeding when their cheek is stroked.

Why are Primitive Reflexes Important?

Understanding primitive reflexes is crucial for several reasons:

  • They provide insight into an infant’s neurological development.
  • Persistent reflexes beyond the typical age of integration may indicate developmental issues.
  • They form the foundation for more complex motor skills and cognitive functions.

Integration of Primitive Reflexes

As a child’s brain and body develops, these reflexes should naturally integrate into more mature movement patterns and advanced neurological functioning. However, sometimes this integration process is incomplete due to stressors on the infants system. This can lead to various challenges in learning, behaviour, and physical coordination.

Some potential Signs of Unintegrated Reflexes

  • Poor fine motor and gross motor skills – balance and coordination
  • Difficulty with reading or writing
  • Hypersensitivity of sensory systems such as sight (eg. bright lights), sound (eg. distracted or disturbed by loud noises), touch (eg. doesn’t like labels, socks or feelings of clothing)
  • Emotional sensitivity or difficulty regulating emotions
  • Challenges with attention and focus, sitting on the mat at school
  • Thumb sucking, speech and articulation problems
  • Bedwetting, toileting issues after potty training or inability to become toilet trained

How to help integrate Primitive Reflexes

Integrating retained primitive reflexes requires doing daily exercises specifically designed to properly integrate the reflex. For example, exercises need to be done at least once or twice daily over months in order to retrain the body, and for the brain to form new pathways.

To learn more go to my Services page or you can register your interest through my booking page to see how I can help your child.

Tips and timing for being at home with school children.

~ Michele Henrick ~ Leave a comment

I’ve had a few questions around timings and activities so thought it would be valuable to share some specifics of what we are doing. Please note I am seeing this time as a maintenance of learning, a time for coming together and being together in a happy, calm space. Not putting pressure on myself or the kids. If you’re after amazing learning lesson ideas there are probably better places to look. Realistic and simple is probably more achievable for me at this time. I’m sure we’ll throw in some really cool learning along the way but not my goal for everyday.

Lesson times should be short. Having one on one ‘teaching’ time is far more effective and valuable but also intense for children. 20 – 40 minute blocks are sufficient for primary aged children. If you can do 3 to 5, 20 to 40 minute blocks that is great. If you can do more wonderful.

We do a literacy block : spelling, writing, grammar, handwriting (options).

Math block, followed by a math game: snakes and ladders, dice, board games, etc.

Then science / technology: anything you can mix or make falls into this category.

AND / OR art/ music/ creative. OR finish with a block of children’s choice.

🌿Everyday play outside.

📚Everyday read books. You read, they read, ask questions to ensure understanding and keeps them interested.

🧠We start everyday with Brain Gym, this helps us focus and get into the right space for learning, communicating, sharing and generally just being in each other’s company.

If you’re trying to work from home yourself. I think setting aside these 20 – 40 minute blocks where you are attentive and put aside work/ issues/ stress will help children feel satisfied and more likely to play or do tasks happily and independently afterwards.

When to work- when they’re eating, when they have screen lead learning, when they have play time. If you’re sitting at the same table and they are working independently it may be tempting to go back to your work and this may be okay but be mindful it’s ‘their time’ so you quickly go back to them if they need help. If you are clear with them it’s their time, when it’s ‘your time’ to work they are more likely to leave you to be. Having clear times helps with expectations.

🌟I think having a ‘choice’ block is most important for working parents as it’s a time for you all to be together without pressure or expectation of learning etc.🌟

I only have one child in school with 2 littlies. If you have older ones in school, the older ones could be responsible for helping younger ones or setting them fun tasks… If they can do this then they can try educational tasks.

Mine make treasure hunts and obstacle courses for each other.

Work our what is possible for your family. If you have any questions get in touch, I’m more than happy to help. 💛