Fine motor activities
& early learning
Fantastic Fingers Program, resources & OT services
my Fantastic Fingers®
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What are Primitive Reflexes? How do they affect development?
How can we determine early if a young child is likely to have mild to moderate delays in their development?
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I have been working with children since the mid-1990s, and I am very concerned about the rising numbers of young children who are struggling with incomplete development. This is backed by research e.g. 2024 AEDC data showed that 23.5% of children in their first year of school were developmentally vulnerable on one or more developmental domains.
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Many children are often missed until they face challenges in their school years. One of the most reliable ways to identify developmental delays early, is to check to see if a child has retained or active primitive reflexes.
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Primitive reflexes aka infant or innate reflexes, transform the development of every child from the womb through the first year after birth. These special reflexes drive all the developmental milestones e.g. the grasp reflex is an automatic response that trains the infant's brain and body to sense, and open and close the muscles of the hand.
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Each primitive reflex has an automatic pattern of movement. These involuntary movements are designed to complete essential functions in every infant's development.
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When each primitive reflex has been used enough, it goes dormant. The toddler now has the best neurodevelopmental foundation for future development and success.
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Due to factors such as stress during pregnancy, trauma at birth, severe illness, environmental toxins, food sensitivities and intolerances etc., some primitive reflexes do not complete their jobs, and stay active in the brain and body. This causes unnecessary challenges throughout life unless these patterns are dealt with through specific movements and play.
'Integrating reflexes is key for the ability to learn easily, manage our emotions and impulses, and meet life's challenges with greater ease. Incomplete integration of childhood reflexes can be mild to severe, and contributes to anxiety; depression; ADD; ADHD; autism; learning disorders; developmental delay; sensory-integration disorders; vision and hearing problems; behavioural challenges; extreme shyness; lack of confidence; addiction; inefficient, effortful work and constantly feeling overwhelmed.' - Sonia Story moveplaythrive.com
One of the easiest ways to see if a child is likely to need extra developmental support, is to check for active primitive reflexes - see video.
Primitive Reflex Check
This video shows me checking a four year old to see if his Spinal Galant reflex is still active (retained). You will see that the Spinal Galant reflex is active on his left side. I stroke his back, and he moves involuntarily to his left, and finds the touch uncomfortable.
I do a simple isometric activity to help his brain and body start to let go of his Spinal Galant reflex pattern. This will be followed by more stimulation, and play based activities as part of his OT home program.
Retention of the Spinal Galant reflex is associated with bedwetting, hip rotation to one side, poor posture, scoliosis, difficulty sitting still, and poor concentration. It is often seen in children with ADHD or ADHD-like symptoms.
If you are working with me, then you will be able to access password protected pages on important primitive reflexes and how to integrate them:
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TRL)
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)