How Primitive Reflexes Can Affect School Performance, Sport, and Confidence
We all know that every child learns and grows in their own unique way but sometimes, challenges with focus, coordination, or even confidence can be
linked to something deeper in the way their brain and body are communicating. One often-overlooked factor is retained primitive reflexes.
What are primitive reflexes?
Primitive reflexes are automatic movements all babies are born with, controlled by the most “primitive” parts of the brain like the brain stem. They
help babies with early survival skills — like feeding, grasping, and movement — and as the brain matures, these reflexes should gradually fade, or
“integrate.” When they don’t, they can continue to interfere with how a child moves, learns, and processes information. Even bright, capable kids might appear clumsy, easily distracted, anxious, or frustrated — not because they’re not trying, but because their nervous system is still being influenced by reflex patterns that should have faded long ago.
How retained reflexes can affect school and sport
1. Coordination and Balance
If your child finds bike riding, catching, or swimming harder than their peers, it could be linked to a retained reflex such as the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) or the Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR). These reflexes affect how the body coordinates head and limb movements — making it tricky for kids to cross the midline, keep their balance, or use both sides of the body together. On the sports field, that can look like clumsiness, avoiding ball games, or frustration during physical activity. One specific example is that while turning their head while riding a bike they turn the handlebars also therefore struggling to ride in a straight line.
2. Focus and Posture
Some children find it almost impossible to sit still or stay upright at a desk for long periods. The Spinal Galant Reflex can make even the back of a chair feel irritating, while a retained Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) can make it hard to hold good posture. If their body is constantly fidgeting for comfort, their brain has less energy to focus on learning resulting in restlessness or “poor attention”.
3. Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills
If your child grips their pencil tightly or tires quickly when writing, the Palmar Grasp Reflex may still be active. This reflex causes babies to close their hand when their palm is touched. When retained, it can make it difficult to develop a relaxed, controlled pencil grip — leading to messy handwriting or hand fatigue.
4. Anxiety and Emotional Regulation
A retained Moro Reflex (the startle reflex) can make children extra sensitive to sudden sounds, movements, or changes in routine. These kids might seem anxious, hyper-alert, or overwhelmed in busy environments — not because they’re “dramatic,” but because their body is constantly on high alert.
5. Reading, Visual Tracking, and Creativity
Retained reflexes can also influence how the eyes move across a page, making reading, drawing, or music more tiring.
For example, if the ATNR is still active, turning the head can trigger arm and hand movement, disrupting smooth eye tracking. This can make following a
line of text, catching a ball, or playing an instrument frustratingly difficult. These children will often need to follow what their reading with their finger or they will loose track of where they’re up to.
How Chiropractic can help
Helping kids reach their potential the most important thing to know is that retained reflexes don’t mean anything is “wrong” with your child, they simply highlight areas where their nervous system may need extra support. Through gentle chiropractic adjustments and simple at-home exercises, we can help the brain and body re-establish better communication, allowing these reflexes to integrate and movement to become more coordinated and efficient. Parents often notice improvements not just in sport or school performance, but also in mood, confidence, and resilience — because when the body feels balanced, the brain can focus on what really matters: learning, growing, and having fun.
Want to learn more?
If your child is struggling with focus, coordination, or confidence — or if you just want to understand how their body and brain work together — we’d love to help.
During an assessment, we can check for retained reflexes and create a plan tailored to your child’s needs to help them move, learn, and perform at their best.