Slow and Steady

Roxy the sloth serves as an example of a dominant parasympathetic nervous system. Sloths are exceptionally good at regulating stress in this state. Our own rhythmic movement exercise based on this creature helps to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and regulate overactive fight or flight behavior, to support the integration of Moro.
Child asleep near Christmas tree decorations.

Maintaining the Merry 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 3 in 5 Americans feel their mental health is negatively impacted by the holidays (2021, NAMI). Holiday season, where later nights, travel and packed schedules often disrupt routine, can be particularly hard for children to navigate. We take a loop at coping strategies for the whole family.
Child hitting colorful piñata outdoors.

A Body in Motion

Our proprioceptive system plays a vital yet unseen role in sensory processing, motor control and our survival instinct. Our body’s ability to sense its position in space is a complex automatic process, essential for coordination and balance in movement. When external and internal cues fail to result in successful processing, developmental and motor challenges may occur.
Children writing in a classroom setting.

Classroom Confidence

We often refer to early education as foundational. Children unlock the ability to read and write by drawing upon an understanding of the body’s two hemispheres that comes from reflex integration. The ability for children to remain attentive, focused and cooperative in a classroom setting is also closely connected to the integration of our primitive reflexes.
Mother multitasking with children at home.

Your Brain’s CEO

Our brain’s frontal lobe is the center for key executive functioning, allowing us to navigate daily activities with control and awareness, manage emotions and draw from working memory. As we age, several reflexes must emerge and integrate to establish the foundation for the highest level of executive functioning.
Elderly couple looking at a photo album.

Cherish Your Memories

Dementia, a state of mental functioning that’s attributed to a number of diseases, impacts roughly one third of adults 85 and older. Cognitive deterioration like Alzheimer’s is a window into how our memory is closely associated with our complex neural networks.
Woman using smartphone in a library.

The Detriment of Delay

Putting off or delaying tasks until the last minute, or even past deadline, is an irrational yet tempting choice. Procrastination is a classic tug of war battle in our brain, between immediate gratification and potential negative consequences. In the end, procrastination persists when our brain’s center for executive functioning, the prefrontal cortex, loses out.
Father helping son with homework at table.

Cracking the Code

Dyslexia, a neurological disorder that impacts how children read and identify sequencing and speech sounds, impacts up to 20% or one in five students. We’re examining how active primitive reflexes may contribute to the visual processing challenges found in disorders like dyslexia.
Baby crawling on grass in a garden.

The Importance of Crawling

The act of crawling helps introduce bilateral coordination, where both sides of the body working in tandem. While this infant milestone recently fell off the CDC ‘checklist,’ the fact remains that the movement is not only significant but foundational to our development.
Family watching colorful fireworks in sky.

Red, White and Boom

It wouldn’t be the Fourth of July without a host of firework-fueled celebrations. The loud noises and unpredictable flashes of light are also incredibly stimulating, especially in a crowded, often hot setting. Navigating this holiday with auditory processing and sensory challenges involves planning and an understanding of the impact of our earliest reflexes.