Winter changes the world in a way that we don’t always talk about.It changes us, too. The sun disappears earlier.The evenings stretch long.Children’s voices echo inside the house a little louder.And somewhere between school drop-offs, dinner, bedtime routines, and the emotional load of motherhood, our nervous systems begin to feel… tired. Not broken.Not failing.Just overstimulated. […]
Some children arrive at counseling carrying invisible armor — anxiety, fear, or silence that keeps their emotions locked away.But then, a therapy dog pads softly into the room, tail wagging, eyes kind — and something magical happens. Walls begin to lower. Words start to find their way out.That’s the quiet power of therapy dogs in
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A relationship-first guide inspired by sensory-smart design and the DIR/Floortime® approach A Quick Personal Note I’m a school counselor by day and a mom the rest of the time. A few years ago I stumbled onto the DIR/Floortime model and it completely reshaped how I think about children’s behavior. DIR/Floortime isn’t about fancy swings or
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Every August, as the first day of school approaches, our house fills with a mix of excitement and nerves—mine included! As a mom, I know how easily little worries can sneak in, turning simple mornings into stressful sprints. As a counselor, I see it in the families I work with, too: the desire for a
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Understanding primitive reflexes can offer school counselors a powerful tool for recognizing underlying causes of behavioral, motor, and learning difficulties in students. When these early reflexes persist beyond infancy, they can subtly—or sometimes dramatically—affect classroom performance. Here are 10 essential insights, each expanded with detailed explanations and practical examples, to help you support your students more effectively.
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Primitive reflexes are the automatic, involuntary movements that all infants are born with. They serve vital survival and developmental functions early in life. By the time a child reaches about six months old, these reflexes should naturally be integrated—or “inhibited”—as higher brain centers assume control of voluntary movement. When primitive reflexes persist beyond infancy, they can interfere with a child’s development and contribute to challenges such as ADHD, anxiety, learning disorders, and social-emotional difficulties.
This article explains what primitive reflex integration is, outlines how retained reflexes can impact behavior and learning, and details safe, engaging exercises that help integrate these reflexes. We also include real-life examples and authoritative references to support mental health professionals, educators, and parents in providing complex, effective help for children.
Therapeutic swings have become a beloved tool in child therapy, offering a fun yet powerful way to support kids’ emotional and physical needs. These specialized swings go beyond playground fun – they are used by occupational and child therapists to help regulate children’s nervous systems and improve sensory integration. Therapists working with children who have ADHD, anxiety, autism, or sensory processing challenges often find that a swing can work wonders in calming a child or helping them focus. The gentle motion of swinging provides soothing vestibular input (sense of balance and movement) that can neutralize sensory disruptions and create a sense of safety. In practice, this means a child who starts a session feeling anxious or “wiggly” might relax and engage more readily after a few minutes in a therapy swing. Parents and therapists alike are recognizing that these swings aren’t just for fun – they’re valuable tools for nervous system regulation, which is the foundation for any effective therapy or learning experience.
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It’s important to disclose that this blog post contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. You dim the lamp, silence your phone, and clear a small corner of the table. Yarn brushes your wrist like a whisper;
Crafting for Calm: How Trending DIY Projects Soothe Your Nervous System Read More »
Relax and Rewind: Simple DIY Sensory Tools and Techniques for Adults After a long, stressful day, it’s easy to feel drained, overwhelmed, and out of balance. Work deadlines, family responsibilities, and the general busyness of life can leave us feeling like we need a reset. But what if there was an easy, effective way to
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