Primitive Reflex

2 November 2025|Primitive Reflex Primitive Reflexes in the Preschool Classroom (Ages 3–5) By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Primitive reflexes are some of the earliest movements babies use to survive and grow. They help with feeding, rolling, and early interaction with the world. By about one year of age, most reflexes fade as the brain matures. […]

Where Primitive Reflex Activities Fit into a Sensory Room By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Primitive reflexes are automatic survival movements babies are born with—like the Moro (startle) reflex or ATNR (head-turn reflex). Most fade by 12–18 months as the brain matures, but sometimes they linger and interfere with posture, attention, reading, or handwriting. It’s important […]

Supporting Students with Autism: When to Use Movement, Sensory, and Primitive Reflex Breaks (K–2 and 3–5) By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Students with autism benefit from purposeful movement throughout the school day. But not all movement is the same. Teachers often ask: When do I use a movement break? What about a sensory break? And […]

Primitive Reflex Integration: Bridging the Gap Between OT and Academic Achievement By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Why Primitive Reflexes Matter in School Participation: Despite rigorous handwriting drills and sensory diets, some students continue to struggle. Emerging literature pinpoints a hidden contributor: retained primitive reflexes that disrupt postural control, oculomotor stability, and executive functions essential for […]

Helping Kids Succeed: How Integrating Primitive Reflexes Can Boost Academic Skills at School and Home By Irene Hannam, MS OTR/L Introduction — Why Primitive Reflexes Still Matter: Primitive reflexes are the automatic survival movements that help newborns breathe, feed, and interact with gravity. They should fade within the first 12–18 months as higher brain centers […]