Primitive Reflex Exercises for Children

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take me to the exercises, please.

Below is a group of categorized exercises for primitive reflexes, but if you are looking for more information on what primitive reflexes are, whether primitive reflexes are normal to have, how these exercises help, and why are primitive reflex integration exercises controversial… you may be interested in the following books on the subject:

1. Integrating Primitive Reflexes Through Play and Exercise: An Interactive Guide to the Moro Reflex for Parents, Teachers, and Service Providers (Reflex Integration Through Play) — available on amazon

2. Integrating Primitive Reflexes Through Play and Exercise: An Interactive Guide to the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) (Reflex Integration Through Play) — available on amazon

3. Integrating Primitive Reflexes Through Play and Exercise: An Interactive Guide to the Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) (Reflex Integration Through Play) — available on amazon

4. Integrating Primitive Reflexes Through Play and Exercise: An Interactive Guide to the Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) (Reflex Integration Through Play) — available on amazon

5. Integrating Primitive Reflexes Through Play and Exercise: An Interactive Guide to the Spinal Galant Reflex (Reflex Integration Through Play) — available on amazon

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How to test for primitive reflexes:

1. ATNR

   1. ATNR Standing (Standardized Test)

   2. ATNR All Fours (Quadruped) / Example of Positive ATNR in All Fours

   3. Crawling with head turns

2. Moro

   1. Lying Backwards over a Therapy Ball

3. STNR

   1. Cat / Cow Posture

4. TLR

   1. Superman Hold

5. Spinal Galant

   1. All Fours

   2. Sitting

   3. Sit Walks

6. Palmar

   1. Finger Tip Touch

Primitive Reflex Exercises

1. Moro Reflex Exercises:

   1. Star to Ball Lying on Back

   2. Popcorn on Therapy Ball

   3. Seated Starfish on Therapy Ball

   4. Seated Starfish / Popcorn on Chair

   5. Hip Hop / Standing Starfish

   6. Seated Bean Bag Toss + Crossing Midline Reach

   7. Snow Angels
      

2. ATNR Exercises:

   1. Seated Switch Ups

   2. Lizard

   3. Mountain Climber / Robot

   4. Lazy 8’s with Head Tilt / Body Sway

   5. Cross Crawls
      

3. STNR Exercises:

   1. Cat and Cow

   2. Rocking Horse

   3. Head Ball Push Obstacle Course
      

4. TLR Exercises:

   1. Yeah Woah’s

   2. Superman

   3. Superwoman

   4. Rolly Polly

   5. Superman Ball Push
      

5. Palmar Grasp Exercises

   1. Finger Pinch
      

6. Spinal Galant Exercises:

   1. Sit Walks

👋 Hi I’m Lauren, a pediatric physical therapist & author who is obsessed with helping proactive parents help their littles move with confidence and ease.

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