Message from Misti

Movement is the foundation of growth, learning, and development, awakening the brain to new possibilities. At the heart of this process lies the vestibular system, the body’s internal compass, which orients us in space and fuels our ability to balance, coordinate, and engage with the world. Every spin, jump, and sway strengthens neural connections, laying the groundwork for attention, emotional regulation, and higher-level cognitive skills. When children move, they are not just playing—they are wiring their brains for success, building resilience, and unlocking their full potential. Through movement, they gain confidence, explore creativity, and develop the essential skills that will carry them through a lifetime of learning. This month we will explore the Tonic Neck Reflexes which are directly related to vestibular activation, the Vestibular System itself and how it interacts with muscle tone, and finally how we can improve core strength necessary for posture, balance and improved motor skills.

Reflex Spotlight: The Tonic Neck Reflexes

Tonic neck reflexes help us navigate gravity and develop movement patterns. These reflexes are triggered by head movement in different directions.

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)

TLR aids in head control, muscle tone, and alternating between flexion and extension.

Poor integration may cause:

Posture issues
Delayed crawling or walking
Vision difficulties
Muscle tone imbalances (hyper/hypotonia)

Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

ATNR supports midline development, hand dominance, and auditory and visual exploration. It strongly influences attention and working memory.

If retained, it can contribute to:

Learning difficulties (reading, spelling, math, handwriting)
Mixed hand dominance
Focus and coordination challenges
High correlation with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia

Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

STNR helps infants transition from lying down to crawling and supports spatial awareness.

Poor integration can lead to:

Difficulty copying from a board
Poor depth perception
Balance issues

Sensory Relationship: The Vestibular System

The vestibular sensory system is a trio of semi-circular canals located in the ear near the auditory sensory system. Its function is to detect head movement and position (straight up/down, tilted to the side, upside down) in relation to gravity. It is predominantly involved in the control of visual gaze, posture, and orientation in space. We need to internally understand upright for our eyes to orient up/down and sideways when processing visual information. Our brain needs this information to send the right signals to our core trunk muscles when holding our body up against gravity. When our vestibular system is not working efficiently, we can exhibit both visual and postural control problems. It plays a key role in posture, balance, and visual coordination.

The posterior, superior, and horizontal canals are part of the vestibular system, at the other end is the cochlea which is part of the auditory system.

The vestibular system can drive many emotional responses which impact behavior and socialization. As with every sensory system, and individual can have a low tolerance (sensory avoiding) or a high tolerance (sensory seeking).

Low Vestibular Tolerance: Leads to movement avoidance, anxiety, and reluctance to climb, swing or take chances during movement. Someone with a low vestibular tolerance will prefer sedentary activities, and may choose to sit out during active recess games.
High Vestibular Threshold: Requires extra movement input, often seen in children who rock chairs, love swings, or frequently lean on objects. These individuals will be drawn to activities that include speed and rotation, which allows the brain enough information to provide muscular support for posture.

The vestibular system plays a crucial role in regulating muscle tone, particularly for maintaining upright posture and balance by influencing the excitability of extensor and flexor muscles.

· The vestibulospinal system, a pathway connecting the vestibular system to the spinal cord, plays a key role in regulating muscle tone.

· Extensor Muscles: The vestibular system primarily excites extensor muscles, which are responsible for extending limbs and maintaining an upright posture.

· Flexor Muscles: Simultaneously, it inhibits flexor muscles, which are responsible for bending limbs, ensuring a balanced and stable posture.

· This coordinated activity of the extensor and flexor muscles, regulated by the vestibulospinal system, helps to maintain an upright posture and prevent falls

Skill Development: Core Strength & Stability

Core strength refers to the muscles of the trunk on the back, the belly, and the sides. These muscles act together to provide stability of the trunk which allows the shoulder and arms to move more effectively when playing and performing fine motor activities. Strong core trunk strength allows the body to be stationary during balancing activities. The body then moves more efficiently without causing an individual to tire.

Poor core stability—now a widespread concern—stems from insufficient tummy time, increased screen use, and decreased vestibular movement which encourages forward flexion and weak posture. In a child poor postural control looks like leaning on tables, people or furniture when sitting or standing. These children may seek extra opportunities for input by tipping or rocking chairs, love being on swings, or may find any reason to be upside down.

To strengthen core muscles, children should engage in daily activities such as:

· Belly-down play (coloring, puzzles)

· Wheelbarrow walking

· Crab walking with ball kicks

· Combat crawling

· Bouncing on a hop ball

· Swinging and climbing

Our muscles that control extension (back muscles) should be 30-50 percent stronger than our flexor muscles. It is very common for children with learning differences to have very weak extensor muscles. The following activities address this muscle group specifically. Caregivers can set up challenges – see how long you can hold the position, can you do it while singing a song, or increase the challenge level.

· Superman pose – on the floor or challenge level while tummy down on a large yoga ball (with someone stabilizing the ball)

· Bridge – challenge level: hold a ball or stuffed animal between the knees and squeeze it to stay in place or lift one leg off the floor, then the other.

· Bird dog – on hands and knees hold one arm up and the opposite leg at the same time. Challenge: balance a shoe or book on the back, keeping the back flat enough so it doesn’t fall off.

Consistent engagement in these activities builds the foundation for fine and gross motor development, helping children move efficiently and maintain good posture.