Child Development Malta

02/03/2026

The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex is another important reflex to have integrated by three years old, as it can affect posture through muscle tone to be able to sit up right, keep the head upright that helps vision with judging space, speed and movement of objects coming toward you, and also listening and balance. Children that walk on their toes shows tight muscle tone in their legs. Relaxing and toning their muscles can allow them to walk properly and feel more relaxed.

Quick test can be done to see if it is still 'active. Stand with your feet together. Eyes open, look down to your toes, does the person lose balance? Look straightahead, eyes open then look up to the ceiling, do they lose balance? Now make the movement a little quicker. Can they keep their balance or do they fall forward or backward, or both?
Now repeat the same with feet still together. This time with the eyes closed. Look down, look up. Make the movement a little quicker. Can they keep their balance or do they fall forward or backward, or both?

If the reflex is integrated, the person can keep their balance. If not, then specific movements can be given to help integrate this reflex and the symptoms will disappear which will be very helpful to posture via stronger muscle tone, improved balance, vision and being able to learn. Motion sickness as in journeys in the car or bus can improve.

If this sounds like your child has these symptoms, or symptoms from the other reflexes I have written about, I will be pleased to help. Please contact me to make an appointment.

I test for each of the reflexes and we work through a course of movements related to each reflex until they are clear and the symptoms are no longer an issue. During the time of integrating the reflexes, you will notice great improvements in your children's ability to learn, their posture, their attention and focus, comprehension skills, speech, listening skills, memory, reading, writing, self-confidence, motivation, all the things they need to do in the classroom, at home or on the sports field.

If you know anyone struggling with learning, please pass on my page. There are many children with learning challenges, and having their reflexes integrated can change their life.

My new website will soon be available, please watch my page. Any questions you may have, please feel free to ask.

25/02/2026

The Spinal galant reflex is stimulated, as an important part of its development, during the natural birthing process. If a baby is born C-Section, this reflex, as others like the ATNR, STNR and TLR don't get the same level of stimulation they need as they would from coming through the birth canal. Lots of sensory stimulation from tactile touch of the skin, and wriggling and turning of the neck, shoulders, hips and spine are important for these reflexes.

This reflex, while in utero, helps stimulate auditory development through vibration too. Listening skills and memory can improve.

Below, you can see the possible symptoms a child, or adult, can experience if this reflex is still active and has not integrated fully. Bedwetting past 5 years old is a typical sign, as is poor concentration and not being able to sit still for any length of time. If a child is wetting the bed past 5 years old, they will not feel like having sleepovers for the embarrassment.

Curvature of the spine as in Scoliosis, and rotation of the hips can be because of this retained reflex. Observing a child that cannot sit back in their chair because it causes irritation when their lower back makes contact, and if they do, they lose concentration. Another sign is the child does not like a tight waist band, or a belt and/or labels touching their skin. Digestive issues like IBS can also be because of this reflex being active.

Using developmental movements that the baby should have learned to do is an easy way to help integrate this reflex. I have seen several children who were bedwetters, and after doing the movements for several days, sometimes a little longer, the bedwetting stopped. I have seen children become more attentive, focused and improved listening and memory skills. Confidence grows too.

If you have a child with these symptoms, or know someone who does through talking to friends and family, let them know I can help. You can contact me through my page or email: mark@childdevelopmentmalta.com

If you have any questions about any of the reflexes, child development or learning challenges, please feel free to ask.
My newly designed website will soon be ready.

23/02/2026

The Moro reflex is a very common reflex to be retained in children, and adults, with stress, anxiety and fear. When this reflex is still 'active', it can be very difficult to be able to concentrate and learn as the child, or adult, is in a constant state of 'Fight or Flight'.

This reflex is to do with our 'survival'. It develops in utero around 8 weeks after conception, peaks at birth as it is gives us the first breath of life. The doctor / midwife look for this straight after birth. The Moro should integrate around 4 months old, providing the baby has been looked after well enough, picked up when distressed and not left to cry for long periods, and it's not living in a stressful and unhappy environment.

Living with an 'active' Moro can make life, and learning, much more challenging because the person is in a state of hyper-alertness and can find it very difficult to feel calm and relaxed. A child needs to feel 'safe' and calm to be able to learn.

This reflex can be affected by any, or all, of the five senses, whereas the other reflexes are usually affected by one sense. For example, some children do not like sudden loud noise (Auditory), some don't like bright flashing lights or darkness at night (Vision), some don't like swings and roundabouts, bumper cars (Vestibular), some don't like being pushed suddenly (Motion/Movement), some don't like being touched or touching certain textures (Tactile) and some are affected by certain smells (Olfactory). Whichever sense, or senses, are triggered, it can cause immediate distress to a child, and it can take them some time to calm down. Being in a classroom with lots of other children, or a supermarket, can be too much for their nervous system to manage and they will avoid these situations, if they possibly can. Some children come home from school and are totally exhausted and need to sleep. Some start poor behaviour, become emotional and let off steam, as they have managed to 'keep it together' in class for so long that the emotion comes out when they get home. Some have emotional outbursts in the classroom and uncontrollable rage. Some children want to be on their own during breaks and not mix with others.
Recognise any of these signs?

The Moro affects the Adrenal gland that produces the stress hormone Cortisol. Our survival instinct should only kick in when we find ourselves in a sudden threatening situation and we need to either 'fight' - stand our ground and/or talk our way out of an issue, or 'Flight' - be able to runaway from the threat. Imagine being in 'fight/flight' mode all the time! Children need to feel safe and relaxed to be able to learn. It is extremely tiring to be constantly on alert, and can affect their sleep pattern, then wake up tired and cannot get going in the morning. This is how many children, and adults, are living today.

What can be done to integrate this powerful and distressing reflex?

This is my area of speciality, testing for, and integrating, any 'active', reflexes. All reflexes should be integrated by around 4 - 5 years old, but this Moro reflex should be integrated by 4 months old. I have various simple techniques using movement that I teach to children and adults. They take the movement home and practice them for about 10 - 15 minutes a day, no more, for about 3 - 4 weeks. Usually, if my instructions are followed well, the Moro will become integrated and the sensory system will calm down, enabling the child to feel safe and be able to learn.

It can change so much for a person's life and abilities without being on 'alert' all the time. Your health improves, the immune system becomes stronger, digestive issues ease away, sleep improves, you feel happier, more energy, self-confidence grows, your emotional state is more balanced...you become a different person that manages in life.
The reflex is still there when your nervous system needs it for your survival and safety, but you do not have to be continuously 'switched on' and hypersensitive all the time.

If you recognise this in your child, or yourself, please message me and I will be pleased to help you.

My new website will soon be up and running with lots of information about the reflexes and various learning challenges, and also courses I provide to share my knowledge and techniques with anyone interested that works with children.
Please share with anyone you know who is struggling, and maybe your school. www.childdevelopmentmalta.com

22/02/2026

This is another important reflex that affects reading and writing to look for in a child. If you recognise any of the symptoms, and there are more with this reflex, for example, a child that cannot hold on when doing monkey bars eg, holding on while going from one bar to the next without letting go, or sitting in a 'W' position with their lower legs out to the side while watching TV, not able to swim using upper body and lower body movements together, legs wrapped round the legs of a chair, cannot keep up with copying from the whiteboard, these are clear indications that this reflex is still 'active'. One cannot expect a child to be able to read or write easily if this reflex is still retained.

Using simple developmental movements can help integrate this reflex, and the difficulties with reading and writing will disappear quite quickly.

Testing for the reflex is easy. Learning to do the specific movements that relate to this reflex for 10 minutes a day, for about three weeks, and the results should be noticeable and the challenges ease away. No more struggling with learning to read and write, and the other challenges related to this reflex mentioned above.

If you have a child that needs help, please contact me.

19/02/2026

Retained primitive reflexes in a child's body will affect their ability to be able to learn easily. Below are a few signs that are caused by a retained Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR). Retained means still 'active' in the body. This reflex should have played its role in development and become integrated by 6 months after birth. It is a typical retained reflex in children, and adults, with Dyslexia because it affects eye tracking, listening, being able to cross the midline line of the body or page when reading or writing and the processing of information between the right and left sides of the brain.

It can remain for life and make things more difficult when it comes to reading, writing, listening, thinking quickly, playing sports, handling objects like a pen or typing with two hands, driving, learning ride a bicycle and several more issues.

Integrating this reflex, and any others still 'stuck' in the body is very easy and can make tremendous changes to a child's ability and skills for learning. No more struggling or frustration, no more getting eye aches or headaches from trying to read. No more stress and frustration from saying 'I cannot do this'. Children love to move, so why not give them developmental movements that develops and strengthens their neurological sensory system to clear learning challenges?

This is my area of work here in Malta. If your child is struggling or has been diagnosed with Dyslexia, I can help. Please contact me with your email and I will send you a questionnaire that will show which reflexes are still retained, and from receiving it back, we can make an appointment for the first session. My email is: mark@childdevelopmentmalta.com

My new website will be available very soon. It will have lots of information about various learning challenges and the signs and symptoms of retained reflexes that are recognised in many classrooms.

10/02/2026

Having spoken to several professionals who work with children with learning challenges like Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, Autism, Speech and language issues and other developmental delays, it is clear that the knowledge and understanding about the importance of retained Primitive reflexes past 5 years old is not available here in Malta, yet. I would like to change this by sharing my knowledge, and techniques, with anyone interested in wanting to understand the relationship toward being able to learn successfully by inhibiting the Early Years Reflexes.

I have also noticed that when I mention using developmental movements to help children overcome their learning and neuro-developmental issues, that the lack of understanding is affecting faster progress to help children in the Education system. Teachers are saying how difficult, time-consuming and frustrating it is in the classroom with some children learning at a much slower pace, or there is poor behaviour and attention/focus issues because they find sitting still so difficult. Reading and writing problems are increasing.

I have been specialising in helping children improve their ability to be able to learn for 23 years. I have seen amazing improvements in a few weeks just using developmental movements for 10 - 15 minutes a day for a short period of time. Movement is key to developing neural connections throughout the brain.

Inhibiting the Primitive reflexes is absolutely essential to development and learning in anyone struggling in the education. It's simple, requires no equipment and anyone can benefit, no matter what age or ability.

I run short courses for teachers, professionals, parents and anyone else working with children with developmental challenges. From the courses, you can take the knowledge and techniques back to your work environment and start using the movements. Results will be noticed quickly, children love to move and the results are lasting.

If anyone is interested in attending courses, please message me know so I can keep you informed. If you are interested in a talk about development, and how specific types of movement develops the sensory system and brain, please state your interest.

15/12/2025

Do you recognise some of the following challenges in your child, or children in school if you are a teacher?
They cannot keep up when copying from the whiteboard / uses a finger to follow a word and sentence when reading / poor comprehension skills / poor handwriting / writing up or down the page rather than across the full page / cannot stay focused for long / cannot sit still or they sit forward in their chair / gets distracted easily / becomes tired quickly / mouth or tongue movements when writing or cutting / sits with their lower legs in a 'W' position / poor listening skills / don't like loud noise, bright or flashing lights or being touched / anxious or fearful much of the time / difficulty making friends?
These are only a few signs seen in many classrooms. They are clear symptoms of an undeveloped sensory system that can affect a child's ability to be able to learn easily.

Trying to teach children with learning challenges will take more time and effort for a teacher, and will cause more stress and frustration in the child because they try and it does not work for them. It's not their fault. It's due to the lack of sensory development and poor neural connections in the brain.

What can be done to clear learning challenges, so that every child can learn with ease and enjoyment?
Use specific developmental movements that stimulates the sensory system that makes, and strengthens, the neural connections. When the brain is sufficiently connected, learning becomes easier and children will enjoy the learning process.

My area of speciality is to teach the developmental movements either on a One to One basis in private sessions, or to teachers in their school. The movements can prove to be difficult, or impossible, to begin with but as the child practices them for no more than 10 - 15 minutes a day, the challenges will disappear and reading, writing, listening, sitting still, all of the symptoms I have mentioned above will become easy. It will improve the learning ability and confidence of children in the education system, and help save a lot of time and frustration for teachers.

If you are looking for help, or would like to know more, please contact me.

21/11/2024

If your child has been diagnosed with having Dyslexia, or has challenges with learning, they are sure to have retained Primitive reflexes. Inhibiting any reflexes still present in the body can have profound and positive effects in how your child will be able to learn easily. It's a simple process using a few minutes of developmental movements for a few weeks to help build and strengthen connections throughout the brain and sensory system. When the connections made, learning becomes easier and enjoyable and opens up opportunities, and choices, for a more successful future.

People with dyslexia often have motor coordination problems. They are clumsy and have poor posture. Many did not crawl and either walked very early or scooted around on their bottoms for extended periods of time. Crawling is important for infants. It helps the corpus callosum (the pathways between the brain hemispheres) to myelinate; is an important step in helping to understand left and right; essential for the development of binocular vision and accommodation (near/far vision).

02/09/2024

If you are reading this, or following me on Facebook, and know parents and schools who have children that are struggling as they go up into another year group, and the learning becomes a little harder, please pass them my website so they know there is further help available, and in a fun way using movement. Children love to move, movement is 'food' to the brain, so give them movements that develop their sensory system at the same time, and with immediate results..

No child needs to struggle to the point of hating going to school. If they are struggling, it is because their brain and sensory system is not developed sufficiently for processing information. This can be for several reasons, but the important thing to know is that no matter how old a child is, the neural connections can always be made, or made stronger, using simple developmental movements.

Learning should be fun, an adventure and an enjoyable experience, but for some it isn't. These are the children that need further neural development to enjoy and achieve in the educational experience. This is my area of expertise, and I love seeing the changes in children, and adults, who were struggling and are now succeeding with ease. Isn't that what every parent, and teacher, wants for their child?

20/06/2024

I was given the opportunity to give a very quick 10 minute presentation at the Early Years Awards evening at the Hilton, and to present some of the well deserved awards to the Childcare centres in their categories. A great evening.

17/04/2024

The number of people who have liked and become followers of my page has increased dramatically over the past months. I am delighted that so many are interested in my particular area of work, that is unique in Malta, that helps children, of all ages, have the ability to learn with ease and confidence.

Clearing retained childhood primitive reflexes creates the foundations to being able to learn with success.

This can be achieved simply, and naturally, using developmental movements every child should learn to make during their Early Years. The improvements are amazing, and lasting.

02/11/2023

This is the work I do as a Rhythmic Movement Training Instructor, to help children overcome developmental issues and challenges with learning. Using simple Rhythmic Movements helps integrate the each of the Primitive and Postural reflexes that develop the neurological foundations of the brain and central nervous system.

It's a simple movement based programme that takes about 10 - 15 minutes each day for about 3 weeks when working with any retained reflex. The improvements in the ability to learn and succeed in tasks that proved to be challenging before are profound, and lifelong, for any age. The earlier the reflexes are integrated, the easier learning and life skills become.

👶🏼 When doing Rhythmic Movements, we stimulate the senses that are essential for building postural control.