By Heather Weigel; edited by Mary McKone, Ed.D. A child who loses focus while reading, guesses at words, forgets math steps, and melts down during homework is often facing multiple overlapping challenges. Parents see this in daily life: their child starts a reading assignment but gets up repeatedly, forgets what was just read, and skips small words like “the” or “was.” The same child might reverse letters, struggle to sound out words, and avoid reading aloud. In math, they ma

If you’ve ever watched your child working hard with their hands — writing, cutting, building with blocks — and noticed their mouth moving along with the action, you’re not alone. Many parents describe it as “silent talking,” grimacing, or chewing the air while their child is focused on a fine-motor task. It can look unusual, and sometimes adults worry it means something is “wrong” or that a reflex from infancy never went away. In this post, I’ll explain what’s most likely hap

When your child repeats the same movement or ritual, a specific “start–stop–go” loop in the brain is working overtime. This loop connects the front of the brain (the prefrontal cortex), the habit centers deep inside (the basal ganglia), and a relay hub (the thalamus) that sends signals back and forth. Together, these areas help decide which behaviors start moment by moment, which keep going, and which stop. Think of this process as a traffic circle. The prefrontal cortex (PFC

Many parents observe when their child stands too close, leans on others, bumps into people, or appears unsure where their body ends and another’s begins. These behaviors may not be just quirks of youth or “bad habits,” but may reflect how their nervous system is building—or struggling to build—a body map and a sense of personal space. Reflexes are automatic movement patterns that help the nervous system organize survival, movement, and later learning. Primitive reflexes are D

The vagus nerve is a powerful gateway to understanding your own body, and why nervous system care is essential for caregivers, especially those supporting neurodivergent and medically fragile children. It quietly shapes whether you feel wired, shut down, or steady—and it influences everything from your heart rate and digestion to your capacity for patience, presence, and connection. Fortunately, there are practical tools you can use to support your nervous system within the r

The glymphatic system serves as your child’s nighttime “cleanup crew” for the brain and relies heavily on deep, organized sleep to clear out waste. Neurodivergent kids often face higher toxic burdens, increased rates of neuroinflammation, and ongoing sleep challenges, making support for this system fundamental to brain health. Reflex integration work offers a powerful, hands-on approach to help the body and brain fulfill this job. What Is the Glymphatic System? The glymphatic

Why does my child laugh when they’re scared or angry? Why do they smile when they’re overwhelmed, or just before a meltdown? If you’ve ever thought, “They’re laughing, so they must be fine,” only to watch your child fall apart moments later, this newsletter is for you. Big Feelings, Mixed Expressions Many neurodivergent children display incongruent emotional expressions, meaning their outward reactions and facial expressions don’t always match how they feel inside. While this

Many neurodivergent kids are also “bendy” kids. They may experience a combination of very flexible joints, frequent pain, heightened sensory reactions, fatigue, or dizziness. Even though these patterns reflect underlying nervous system and connective tissue differences, they are often misunderstood, minimized, or treated as unrelated concerns. Thankfully, research has begun to connect these dots, revealing that connective tissue differences, neurodivergence, and nervous syste

The vestibular system is far more than a “balance organ.” It is a deep regulator of body position, eye movements, arousal, and closely related cerebellar (in the cerebellum) circuits, which together have a powerful influence on a child’s ability to sit up, stay focused, and manage behavior in everyday life. When this system is under- or over-responsive, attention and learning often suffer alongside balance, posture, and coordination. The vestibular system, located in the inne

One area of concern for most of my clients is their child's poor focus, attention, and learning. Our sensory systems play a huge role in the development of these higher-order cognitive skills, particularly proprioception and vestibular function. Proprioception, vestibular function, the cerebellum, and neuroreflexes collectively support higher-order thinking and school performance. These systems form a tightly interwoven network that underlies postural control, self-regulation

The Science of Reading: What Every Parent Should Know Reading is one of the most important skills your child will learn. Unlike speaking, which develops naturally, reading requires deliberate, structured teaching. The Science of Reading (SoR) is a robust body of research that explains how the brain learns to read and guides which instructional practices work best—particularly for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges. What Is the Science of Reading? The Science

My friend and mentor, Moira Dempsey, the co-creator of Rhythmic Movement Training, taught me the principle of "less is more" many years ago. I hear her in my head often when I am consulting with families. American culture has long emphasized the "work harder" and "no pain, no gain" mentality, and this viewpoint often permeates the work caregivers and practitioners do with children. However, it can impede progress and overstimulate the autonomic nervous system, causing behavio

One of the most significant challenges in education is meeting the diverse needs of all learners in the classroom. In any given classroom, you will have students with different skill levels, interests, background knowledge, motivation, learning preferences, and neurological profiles. One well-researched approach to this is Universal Design for Learning. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an inclusive educational framework designed to meet the diverse needs of all learner

Executive Function: What It Is and Why It Matters Executive function is a set of mental skills that enable individuals to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and manage multiple tasks successfully. Often described as the “CEO of the brain,” executive function helps people organize their behavior and make decisions. These cognitive processes are crucial for goal-directed activity and self-regulation and play a vital role in learning and daily life. What Is Executive

The Basal Ganglia: Development and Role in Primitive and Postural Reflexes The basal ganglia are a group of interconnected brain structures located deep within the cerebral hemispheres. These nuclei play a crucial role in movement control, motor learning, and coordination, as well as cognitive and emotional processes. They are essential for smooth, voluntary movement and the suppression of involuntary or excessive movement patterns. Development of the Basal Ganglia The basal

How Blue Light from Electronic Devices Affects Brain Development in Young Children In today’s digital age, electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers have become integral parts of daily life, offering entertainment, education, and connectivity. However, increasing concerns have emerged over the potential negative effects of excessive screen time, particularly in young children. One of the most discussed threats is the impact of blue light emitted by these

Neuroacoustic Music: Harnessing Sound to Heal and Enhance the Brain In recent years, the term "neuroacoustic music" has been gaining attention within the fields of neuroscience, psychology, and music therapy. Also known as "therapeutic listening," it is rooted in the intersection of music and brain science. Neuroacoustic music refers to a specialized form of sound therapy that uses particular sound frequencies, patterns, and vibrations to influence brain function. This approa

Temporal processing – the brain's ability to perceive and process time intervals accurately – plays a pivotal role in how we speak and read. As professionals striving for excellence in our respective fields, understanding the intricate workings of temporal processing unveils a whole new realm of comprehension and skill development in speech and literacy. When we hear speech, that information comes into our ears, through the cochlea, down to the brainstem to the Reticular Act

As parents, caregivers, educators, and health professionals, our primary goal is to provide our children with the best environment for optimal growth and development. One fascinating area of study that has been gaining attention in recent years is the impact of vibration on brain development. From enhancing reflex integration to improving development of the sensory and motor systems, the benefits of incorporating vibration into everyday activities are vast and noteworthy. Und

In my practice and in my Facebook group, I often have parents share that suddenly their child's speech has regressed, dysregulation has increased, or negative behaviors have emerged. Usually, a recent illness precedes this new development. A couple of years ago, I had a wild and scary experience. Due to a very stressful situation in our lives, my EBV (Epstein Barr) and CMV (Cytomegalovirus) were reactivated. Within a couple of hours of feeling unwell, a fever spiked, and I fo