From Reflex to Success: Understanding Primitive Reflexes in Children

What are primitive reflexes, and why do they matter?

Did you know babies are born with special reflexes, like grasping your finger or turning toward your touch? These early movements help them develop and meet milestones like rolling, sitting up, and crawling. As they grow, these reflexes usually “integrate” so they can build on those milestones to achieve higher-level skills like balance, handwriting, and self-regulation.

Sometimes, these reflexes hang around a bit too long and are “retained.” Understanding primitive reflexes in children helps explain why retained reflexes can affect focus, posture, and coordination. This could look like slouching when sitting down, falling frequently, or having a hard time transitioning from different tasks. The good news is that most everyday play, such as climbing, dancing, swinging, or animal walks, supports brain-body connections and sensory development. 

Remember, every child develops at their own pace, and challenges don’t always mean reflexes are the cause. Implementing more everyday play and reaching out to an occupational therapist for support and education when needed can help ensure your kids are ready to thrive! 

So, what can you do at home?

Keep playing! Implementing fun games that include tummy time, crawling, animal walks, climbing, rolling, and swinging will support the timely integration of primitive reflexes. If you are a parent who is noticing that your kiddo is very sensitive to sound, likes very specific clothing, or is clumsy, pediatric occupational therapy is a great resource to help identify whether or not reflex integration may be impacting your child.

When should we see an OT?

Every child grows and develops at their own pace! If you’ve noticed your little one needing some extra help with fine or gross motor skills, sensory processing, or self-regulation, a pediatric occupational therapy assessment can gently look at whether or not reflex integration may be playing a role. With the right support, we can help your child feel more confident and comfortable as they grow!

Occupational therapists incorporate play-based strategies into their sessions to help children achieve their goals. With activities like curated obstacle courses, swings, sensory bins, and targeted exercises, the child is able to build their skills in a natural, playful environment.