When we watch our children play, write, or communicate, it’s easy to focus on the visible skills. But beneath every coordinated step, every reach, and every gesture lies a hidden foundation: reflexes. These automatic movements, present from birth, are crucial for building the connection between the brain and body.
For many children, especially those with autism or whole-body apraxia, certain reflexes don’t fully integrate. This can create obstacles with movement, coordination, focus, and even communication. Fortunately, with the right strategies, these challenges can be addressed.
In this guide, we’ll explore:
- How reflexes shape development
- The role of intentional movement in building skills
- Why vision matters for movement and learning
- How regulation supports motor control
- Practical tips for daily tasks, spelling, and typing
Understanding Reflexes: The Hidden Building Blocks
Reflexes are automatic, involuntary movements that appear early in life. They serve as the body’s natural survival mechanisms. You can think of a reflex as a “loop”: a specific trigger (stimulus) leads to a predictable reaction. For instance, when you touch a baby’s palm, they instinctively grasp your finger—that’s a reflex at work.
Primitive Reflexes: Foundations for Growth
Primitive reflexes appear at birth and help establish the nervous system’s framework. As babies grow and explore movement, these reflexes typically fade—or “integrate”—allowing for controlled, voluntary actions.
When reflexes fail to integrate, children may experience:
- Difficulty coordinating movements
- Challenges processing sensory information
- Delays in developmental milestones
- Struggles with self-regulation in everyday life
This miscommunication between neurons can affect both gross and fine motor skills, including eye movements essential for reading and writing.
Key Reflexes That Influence Movement and Coordination
Here’s a closer look at important reflexes and the impact if they persist:
Moro Reflex (“Startle Reflex”)
Triggered by sudden movement or loud sounds, this reflex typically fades by 2–4 months. If retained, children may be easily startled, overly sensitive to sensory input, and constantly in “fight or flight” mode.
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)
Involving head and posture control, retained TLR can lead to difficulty sitting upright, clumsiness, toe-walking, or poor distance judgment.
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
Essential for preparing crawling, retention beyond six months may cause poor midline crossing, coordination challenges, and visual tracking issues.
Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)
Supports crawling and develops between 6–9 months. If retained, it can result in weak posture, low muscle tone, or hypermobility.
Palmar Reflex
This automatic hand-grasp reflex is critical for fine motor skills. If not integrated, writing, buttoning, or grasping objects may be challenging.
Remember: Core strength forms the base for all movements. Weak core muscles affect both large motor skills and fine motor coordination.
Encouraging Reflex Integration
Supporting reflex integration means guiding children through purposeful, repeated movement that strengthens brain-body connections.
Ways to Support Reflex Integration
- Tailored physical exercise programs
- Recreational and hobby-based activities
- Daily living skills (dressing, grooming, eating)
- Occupational therapy targeting retained reflexes
- Vision therapy with developmental optometrists
When reflexes integrate properly, children move with greater ease, coordination improves, and activities like spelling, typing, and handwriting become more manageable.
Intentional Movement: Turning Thought into Action
Intentional movement, or praxis, refers to purposeful actions directed by the brain. It’s what differentiates voluntary movement from reflexive responses.
The Movement Process
- Ideation – Forming the intention (“I want to drink water”)
- Planning & Sequencing – Organizing the steps needed
- Initiating – Beginning the movement
- Adapting – Adjusting if something goes wrong
- Completing & Inhibiting – Finishing or stopping the action
Children with whole-body apraxia may experience breakdowns, particularly at the initiation stage. Research suggests about 67% of children with autism exhibit challenges in this brain-body connection.
At Spellers Center Atlanta, we focus on intentional movement to help kids with autism and whole body apraxia.
The Sensory-Motor Loop and Its Importance
Effective movement relies on the nervous system’s ability to process sensory information, including touch, sight, sound, and proprioception.
In children with autism, sensory processing can be:
- Seeking input: spinning, deep pressure, visual stimulation
- Avoiding input: loud sounds, bright lights, certain textures
When sensory systems are unbalanced, motor control and regulation are affected, making intentional movement more difficult.
Regulation: The Core of Learning and Motor Control
Regulation refers to maintaining steady attention, emotional balance, and body awareness. Without it, purposeful movement becomes a struggle.
Supporting Regulation
- Bottom-Up (Sensory) Approaches: Using sensory input to stabilize the body (e.g., deep pressure, rhythmic movement, calming sounds)
- Top-Down (Cognitive) Approaches: Using attention and engagement to regulate (e.g., reading, listening, structured activities)
Tips for Parents:
- Identify your child’s sensory profile with an occupational therapist
- Adjust environmental stimuli like voice volume or lighting
- Use rhythm and pattern in daily activities to support regulation
- Engage children in high-interest tasks to encourage top-down regulation
- Combine regulation strategies with intentional movement exercises
Step-by-Step Coaching for Better Motor Control
Breaking tasks into smaller, guided steps helps children succeed.
For example, instead of saying, “Sit down,” try:
- “Look at the chair.”
- “Step forward with your foot.”
- “Turn your body toward the chair.”
- “Bend your knees and sit.”
- Start with the eyes—they guide the body.
Key Takeaways for Parents
- Retained reflexes affect movement, coordination, and learning
- Intentional movement strengthens brain-body connections and supports skills like spelling and typing
- Regulation is essential for effective motor control
- Core strength and posture are critical for daily function
- Stepwise coaching helps children gain independence
Children who struggle with coordination, attention, or motor planning can benefit from:
- Occupational Therapy specializing in reflex integration and apraxia
- Developmental Optometry for vision-related motor challenges
With the right guidance, your child can improve coordination, gain confidence, and achieve milestones—one intentional step at a time.
Be sure to check out the Spellers Documentary to see how Spellers Method has impacted so many people’s lives.
