Could They Be Affecting Your Child?

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Understanding how early movement patterns may influence your child's development, learning and wellbeing.

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Have you ever wondered why your child finds certain things so much harder than other children?

Perhaps they struggle to sit still, find handwriting exhausting, have difficulty concentrating or seem unusually sensitive to noise and their surroundings. They might be bright and capable, yet learning takes far more effort than you would expect.

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There can be many reasons for these difficulties, but one area that is often overlooked is the role of primitive reflexes.

These early movement patterns are an important part of a baby's development, helping to lay the foundations for movement, posture and coordination.

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Understanding how they develop, and what happens when they remain active beyond infancy, can offer another perspective on a child's difficulties.

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What are primitive reflexes?

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Primitive reflexes are automatic movements that babies are born with. They begin developing before birth and help babies respond to their environment during the earliest stages of life.

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For example, when a newborn's cheek is touched, they instinctively turn towards it to find food. When startled, their arms may suddenly extend outwards before coming back towards their body.

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These are not movements a baby consciously chooses to make. They are automatic responses controlled by the developing nervous system.

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As a child grows, the brain and nervous system mature. Many of these early reflexes gradually become less prominent, allowing more controlled, purposeful movements to develop.

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This transition is part of the normal process of development.

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What happens when primitive reflexes are retained?

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Sometimes, elements of these early reflex patterns can still be observed in older children.

These are known as retained primitive reflexes.

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Researchers have explored possible associations between retained reflexes and difficulties involving movement, coordination, attention and aspects of learning. However, the significance of these associations is still being investigated, and retained reflexes are not an established explanation for conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia or anxiety.

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Nevertheless, observing how a child moves, balances and responds to different activities can provide useful information about their development.

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A child may have developed ways of compensating for areas they find difficult, sometimes without anyone realising just how much effort everyday tasks require.

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What might you notice in your child?

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Some of the difficulties that can prompt a closer look at a child's motor and sensory development include:

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• Concentration: Finding it difficult to remain seated, constantly moving or becoming easily distracted.

• Reading and writing: Losing their place when reading, finding handwriting tiring or struggling to coordinate movements on the page.

• Coordination and balance: Appearing clumsy, avoiding certain physical activities or finding it difficult to learn new movement skills.

• Posture: Slumping at a desk, leaning on their arms or frequently changing position.

• Sensory sensitivities: Becoming overwhelmed by noise, touch or busy environments.

• Emotional regulation: Becoming easily frustrated, overwhelmed or anxious when faced with challenges.​

These difficulties do not necessarily mean that a child has retained primitive reflexes. They can arise for many different reasons, including sensory, developmental, emotional and physical factors.

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The important thing is to look at the child as a whole rather than focus on one symptom.

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Understanding some of the main primitive reflexes

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The Moro Reflex – The Startle Response

The Moro reflex is one of the earliest protective responses in babies. It is triggered by sudden changes in movement or sensation, such as an unexpected noise or feeling of falling.

In infancy, it produces an automatic startle movement.

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Some practitioners explore whether persistent startle responses in older children may be associated with heightened sensitivity or difficulty settling after unexpected events.

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If your child seems constantly on alert, is easily startled or struggles with overwhelming environments, it is worth exploring their wider sensory and emotional needs.

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The ATNR – Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

The ATNR is an early reflex in which turning a baby's head influences the position of their arms and legs.

It plays a role in early movement development.

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In older children, unusual head-turning and limb-movement patterns may be worth investigating when there are difficulties with bilateral coordination, handwriting or activities requiring the two sides of the body to work together.

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The STNR – Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

The STNR emerges during infancy and is associated with changes in arm and leg position as the head moves.

It is part of the developing movement patterns involved in the transition towards crawling.

Children who struggle with sitting posture, coordinating upper and lower body movements or maintaining comfortable positions for desk work may benefit from a closer assessment of their motor development.

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The TLR – Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

The TLR relates to the influence of head position on muscle tone and body posture.

It is associated with the developing relationship between movement, gravity and balance.

Where a child experiences difficulties with posture, balance or coordination, examining their overall movement development can help identify areas requiring support.

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Why does this matter for learning?

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Learning is not simply about intelligence.

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A child needs to coordinate many different skills to participate comfortably in a classroom.

They need to sit upright, control their eye movements, listen, process information, coordinate their hands and manage distractions.

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For some children, these activities happen relatively easily. For others, they require considerable effort.

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Imagine trying to concentrate on a lesson while also working hard to maintain your posture, keep your place on the page and manage the sounds around you.

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It is understandable that learning could become exhausting.

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This is why I believe it is important to look beyond academic performance and consider the developmental foundations that support a child's everyday functioning.

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How do I assess primitive reflexes?

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At Quester Therapies, I look at primitive reflexes as part of a broader neurodevelopmental assessment.

I observe a child's movement patterns, balance, posture, coordination and responses to a range of simple activities.

I also consider other areas that may be contributing to their difficulties, including hearing, sensory processing, stress and general wellbeing.

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My aim is to understand the individual child and identify areas where they may need additional support.

Reflex observations are only one part of this wider picture and are not used on their own to diagnose a learning or developmental condition.

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Can anything be done to help?

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Children's nervous systems continue to develop and adapt as they grow.

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Movement, physical activity and appropriate developmental support can help children develop coordination, balance, confidence and motor skills.

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At Quester Therapies, I offer an individualised Neurodevelopmental Programme incorporating movement-based activities tailored to the child's assessment findings.

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You can find out more about my Neurodevelopmental Programme here.

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Could primitive reflexes be part of your child's picture?

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If your child is struggling with learning, behaviour, coordination or emotions, it can be frustrating when you cannot understand why.

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Sometimes, exploring areas of development that have not previously been considered can help build a clearer picture of their needs.

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At Quester Therapies, I work with children and families to explore the different factors that may be contributing to these challenges.  Do book in for a free 15 min consultation:

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