PRIMITIVE REFLEXES: What this means for us as Physical Education teachers

From the day you are born, you have primitive reflexes. According to the National Library of Medicine, “Primitive reflexes are involuntary motor responses originating in the brainstem, present after birth in early child development, that facilitate survival” (Sohn, Ahn, & Lee, 2011). As our brains respond to stimuli and the frontal lobe develops over time, these reflexes are either integrated or inhibited based on what the body needs.

I am not a doctor (although my brother and sister-in-law are!). I am not a physical or occupational therapist (though I work alongside some outstanding ones!). I am a Physical Education teacher who sees kids in a movement-based setting every single day. I see students struggle with simple movements and body positions: sitting, turning, crawling, stepping over and under. I see throwing and catching skills that are underdeveloped. I see midline-crossing activities that are challenging for many students.

Could some of this be related to increased tablet use or more sedentary lifestyles? Sure. However, many researchers suggest that retained primitive reflexes may be the real culprit behind delays in young children.

Over the summer, I took an incredible course on primitive reflexes. This learning wasn’t just targeted toward students with special needs, it applied to all young learners. In fact, some adults still have retained primitive reflexes. The course highlighted how intentionally integrating reflex-based movements into the classroom and physical education setting can help students experience greater success in all daily activities, including reading and writing!

If you’re interested in learning more, check out these fantastic resources from Tools to Grow: Resources for Pediatric Therapists and SoundSory.. Consider incorporating some of these activities into stations or using them as alternatives to your traditional warm-up.

Keep on,

Katie