The backpacks are packed and the pencils are sharpened, but preparing your child for a successful school year extends well beyond school supplies and curriculum nights. Foundational connections in the brain, or reflexes, shape our social, emotional and physical well-being as we navigate through life’s daily interactions. In a classroom setting, a child’s reflex integration is critical to their learning, and simple, targeted exercises can strengthen their ability to succeed this school year.

From a clinical perspective, I often send a follow up text message to see how a client responds to our time together. Here is a message that I received from a mother of a client, with regards to her middle school-aged daughter’s response.