Blog
How Do You Test for Primitive Reflexes? A Pediatric OT Explains 8 Key Reflexes
by Earl Mamaril, MS, OTR/L
When a child struggles with transitions, emotional regulation, clumsiness, or focus, it is easy to read it as behavior. A pediatric OT looks deeper — at the central nervous system. Earl Mamaril, MS, OTR/L explains what primitive reflexes are and how we test for 8 of them: Fear Paralysis, TLR, STNR, Landau, Crossed Extension, Automatic Gait, Babkin, and Rooting.
Your Child's Nervous System Is More Than 'Fight or Flight': Understanding Safety, Stress, and Healing
by Sensory Therapy Place
Your child's behavior is not always "just behavior." Often it is the nervous system trying to protect itself. Learn how the ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal systems shape your child's safety, stress, and ability to heal — and the simple ways you can support regulation at home.
Why Does My Child Hide From Crowds, Refuse Hugs, or Crash Into Everything? Your Child's Sensory Profile Explained
by Earl Mamaril
Winnie Dunn's 4 Sensory Quadrants explain why one child crashes into walls while another covers their ears at the grocery store. Earl Mamaril walks parents through what each quadrant looks like — and the exact OT-recommended tools for your child's type.
Best Fidget Toys for Kids with Anxiety — A Pediatric OT's Guide
by Earl Mamaril, Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Not all fidget toys are created equal. Pediatric OT Earl Mamaril breaks down the 5 best fidget tools for kids with anxiety and ADHD — and explains the neuroscience behind why they actually work.
Why Your Child Crashes Into Things, Can't Sit Still, or Trips on Flat Floors: The Vestibular System Explained
by Sensory Therapy Place
If your child can't sit still, crashes into walls, melts down on the playground, or trips over flat floors — their vestibular system may be the missing piece. Pediatric OT Earl Mamaril breaks down the inner-ear GPS that runs balance, focus, and emotional regulation.
