Primitive reflexes are a necessary and normal part of infant development. They play a vital role in survival functions and pave the way to conscious actions and reactions. There is a beautiful sequential order to the different reflexes emerging and then integrating when no longer needed. Sometimes, reflexes do not integrate in the normal time-window that they should, or, they may re-emerge later in life. When this happens, their presence, as active pathways in the brain, can cause huge challenges in aspects such as learning, emotional maturity, and/ or coordination.
The earliest reflexes (Fear Paralysis Reflex, and Moro Reflex) are associated with alarm, and survival while later on the reflexes are associated more with coordination of body, eyes, emotional regulation, feeding, sensory processing, toilet training, reading, writing etc.
We explore the difference between the reaction from the Fear Paralysis Reflex and the Moro (startle) reflex, and discuss various sensory techniques sometimes necessary to gain trust, safety, and connection before venturing into specific movements and exercises.
Janet, who I'm talking with, has worked in child development for 40 years and pursued training in many of the main techniques and therapies related to touch and movement interventions to facilitate normal development. She has many tools in her tool box and melds all her acquired knowledge along with an appreciation of where the chid is at and what they are able to do.