Primitive reflexes are essential for early brain development, intended to be active only during the initial months of life. Typically, these reflexes are suppressed in a specific order within the first year, making way for more advanced responses known as postural reflexes. These postural reflexes are crucial for managing balance, coordination, and sensory-motor development as children grow.

However, when primitive reflexes do not integrate properly, they can lead to developmental challenges. Retained primitive reflexes are often associated with difficulties related to conditions such as ADHD, sensory processing disorder, autism, and learning disabilities. Their persistence can affect various areas, including:

• Coordination and Balance: Leading to clumsiness or difficulty in physical activities.
• Sensory Perceptions: Resulting in over- or under-sensitivity to sensory inputs.
• Fine Motor Skills: Impacting tasks like writing or using utensils.
• Sleep and Immunity: Disrupting sleep patterns and weakening the immune system.
• Energy Levels and Impulse Control: Causing fatigue and challenges with self-regulation.
• Concentration and Learning: Affecting attention, focus, and academic performance.
• Social and Emotional Development: Contributing to issues with social interactions and emotional regulation.

At Connected Kidz, we believe in addressing these root causes by fostering new neural connections. Our approach is based on the understanding that the brain's pathways can be reshaped and developed, leading to improvements in these symptoms.

We offer a personalized program designed to integrate retained primitive reflexes and enhance overall brain connectivity. This holistic approach goes beyond merely managing symptoms — it aims to create lasting change. Your dedicated coach will work closely with your child and family, guiding you towards achieving your developmental and behavioral goals.

Several factors can contribute to the retention of primitive reflexes, including:

• Birth Experiences: Traumatic births or c-sections can interfere with the natural integration of reflexes.
• Physical Development: Insufficient tummy time, delayed or skipped crawling stages, and frequent falls or traumas can impede reflex development.
• Health Issues: Chronic ear infections and head injuries can disrupt normal reflex integration.
• Spinal Misalignments: Vertebral subluxations can also play a role in the retention of primitive reflexes.

At Connected Kidz, we understand that retained primitive reflexes can significantly impact your child's growth and daily life. Addressing these reflexes is a crucial step towards enhancing your child's coordination, sensory processing, and overall development.

We are here to guide you through this journey with a personalized approach designed to meet your child's unique needs. Our dedicated team is committed to helping your child thrive, supporting them in achieving better balance, emotional regulation, and academic success.

Understanding the Fear Paralysis Reflex (FPR)

The Fear Paralysis Reflex (FPR) emerges early in embryonic development, where the embryo responds to stress by withdrawing and freezing. This reflex should merge into the Moro reflex and become inactive before birth. If not fully integrated, the FPR can lead to lasting challenges with fear, contributing to anxiety, negativity, and difficulty managing stress.

Common in Kids with PDA: The Fear Paralysis Reflex is often observed in children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a condition on the autism spectrum characterized by extreme anxiety and avoidance of everyday demands and expectations. Children with PDA may exhibit heightened fear responses, difficulty in coping with change, and intense emotional reactions due to retained primitive reflexes like the FPR.

At Connected Kidz, we specialize in identifying and addressing reflexes such as the Fear Paralysis Reflex to support emotional well-being and development in children, particularly those with conditions like PDA.

Understanding the Babinski Reflex

The Babinski reflex happens when you touch certain parts of your baby's foot. It makes their big toe lift up and the other toes spread out. This reflex is important early on for helping with balance and learning to stand.

How It Affects Development:

1. Balance and Stability: Trouble feeling stable and balanced.

2. Coordination Issues: Difficulty coordinating movements, like walking and running.

3. Timidity: Shyness or hesitancy in physical activities.

At Connected Kidz, we specialize in applying techniques from the Melillo Method to identify and address reflexes such as the Babinski reflex, promoting optimal development and well-being for your child.

Understanding the Moro Reflex and Its Effects

The Moro reflex is an early, instinctive response in infants, often replaced by the adult startle reflex by four months of age. When this reflex remains active beyond this period, it can impact a child's behavior and development.

Signs of a Retained Moro Reflex:

• Heightened Sensitivity: Over-reactive to sensory stimuli.
• Poor Impulse Control: Struggles to manage immediate reactions.
• Sensory Overload: Easily overwhelmed by sensory inputs.
• Anxiety and Emotional Instability: Prone to stress and mood swings.
• Social Challenges: Difficulty with social interactions and adapting to change.
• Motion Sickness: Frequent nausea or dizziness during movement.
• Balance and Coordination Issues: Struggles with physical activities.
• Easily Distracted: Trouble focusing.

At Connected Kidz, we specialize in helping integrate retained reflexes to enhance your child’s sensory, emotional, and social skills.

Understanding the Rooting Reflex

The rooting reflex is essential for newborns, helping them latch on for breastfeeding. This reflex is triggered by gently stroking a baby's cheek, causing them to turn their head and open their mouth. Typically, the rooting reflex fades by four months of age.

Signs of a Retained Rooting Reflex:

• Difficulty with Solid Foods: Challenges in transitioning from liquids to solids.
• Poor Articulation: Trouble with clear speech and enunciation.
• Thumb Sucking: Persistent habit beyond infancy.

At Connected Kidz, we offer solutions to integrate retained reflexes, promoting smoother development and better eating and communication skills.

Understanding the Palmar Reflex

The palmar reflex is an early motor response where a baby's fingers automatically close around an object placed in their palm. This reflex usually integrates by six months of age.

Signs of a Retained Palmar Reflex:

• Fine Motor Challenges: Difficulty with tasks requiring precise hand movements.
• Tongue Protrusion While Writing: Unconscious sticking out of the tongue during hand activities.
• Messy Handwriting: Poor control and coordination leading to untidy writing.

At Connected Kidz, we help address retained reflexes like the palmar reflex to enhance your child’s motor skills and overall development.

Understanding the ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex)

The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) is an early motor reflex observed when a baby turns their head to one side. This causes the arm and leg on the same side to extend, while the limbs on the opposite side bend. This reflex is crucial for developing hand-eye coordination and typically integrates by six months of age.

Signs of a Retained ATNR:

• Poor Hand-Eye Coordination: Difficulty in activities that require precise movement, like writing or catching a ball.
• Challenges with Crawling or Walking: Delays or awkward movements in these motor milestones.
• Reading and Writing Difficulties: Issues with tracking words or maintaining proper posture while writing.

At Connected Kidz, we specialize in addressing retained reflexes like ATNR to support your child’s motor and cognitive development.

Understanding the Spinal Galant Reflex

The Spinal Galant Reflex is an early motor reflex that appears when the skin along the side of a baby’s back is gently stroked, causing the baby to swing or curve towards the stroked side. This reflex is vital for helping the baby navigate through the birth canal and typically integrates between three and nine months of age.

Signs of a Retained Spinal Galant Reflex:

• Posture and Coordination Issues: Difficulties maintaining good posture and smooth coordination during movement.
• Attention and Focus Challenges: Struggles with sitting still and staying focused, often mistaken for hyperactivity or inattention.
• Discomfort in Seated Positions: Fidgeting or squirming when seated due to heightened sensitivity along the spine.
• Bedwetting: Persistent bedwetting beyond the typical age, potentially linked to this reflex not integrating properly.

At Connected Kidz, we focus on integrating retained reflexes like the Spinal Galant to enhance your child's developmental progress and comfort.

Understanding the Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)

The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) is crucial in early motor development, assisting infants in head control and preparing them for milestones like rolling over, crawling, standing, and walking. This reflex is activated when an infant's head is tilted backward while lying on their back, causing their body to respond with stiffened legs, pointed toes, clenched fists, and bent elbows. Ideally, the TLR should integrate as the child's motor systems mature and typically disappear by around 3 ½ years of age.

Signs of a Retained TLR:

• Poor Muscle Tone: Difficulties with muscle strength and posture, often resulting in slouching or weak core stability.
• Tendency to Walk on Toes: Walking on tiptoes due to the body’s residual response to head tilting.
• Motion Sickness: Sensitivity to motion and balance, leading to frequent feelings of nausea.
• Balance and Coordination Issues: Challenges in maintaining balance and performing coordinated movements, affecting overall physical activity.

At Connected Kidz, we specialize in helping children overcome the challenges of retained reflexes like the TLR, facilitating better movement, balance, and overall development.

Understanding the Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

The Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR), also known as the crawling reflex, plays a crucial role in early motor development. Initially present shortly after birth, it reappears around six to nine months to aid in the crawling process. Activation of the STNR occurs when the head is brought towards the chest, causing the arms to bend and the legs to extend, facilitating the body's ability to divide in half at the midline.

Developmental Impact of Retained STNR:

• Poor Muscle Tone: Difficulty in maintaining muscle strength and posture, often leading to a tendency to slump while sitting.
• Inability to Sit Still: Challenges in staying focused and still, affecting concentration and attention span.
• Delayed Motor Skills: Developmental delays in crawling and other motor milestones due to the reflex's persistence beyond typical stages of development.

Ideally, the STNR should naturally integrate by around 11 months of age as other motor patterns mature. At Connected Kidz, we specialize in identifying and addressing retained reflexes like the STNR to support optimal motor development and overall well-being.