Child Development Malta

10/06/2026

Being a 'Good Enough Parent' rather than a 'Perfect Parent' is the best way for your child's development. I hope this video is helpful to understand what children need from their parents. Bringing up children can be difficult, and frustrating, at times. Listening to this lady can helpful and supportive to make some changes, if needed, to help make parent's lives, and their child's life, easier so their outcome is the best you can make it, and be able to pass it on to their children.

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10/06/2026

I would like to share this video with parents, as it is important to be aware rather than ignore and your child has a problem later and it is too late. I see so many parents give a mobile device, or screen, to keep them entertained, and then they cannot take it away without such a tantrum.

Children eat watching a screen, go to bed with a screen, sit in a car with a screen. This is causing a problem for families, and teachers, more and more. Please be aware, parents, your little ones need your time, interaction and connection. I hope this helps.

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05/06/2026

Many people ask me; What can cause the Reflexes to remain active?

Below is a diagram that helps understand some of the causes that can affect development from pre-birth, during the birthing process and after birth.

If the Reflexes have been affected by any of these issues, using developmental movements can help. Just a few minutes of rhythmical movements each day for a short period of time can help the baby's, or child's, nervous system to overcome the difficulty, allowing their in-born developmental programme to catch up.

The courses I run here in Malta are about noticing the signs of retained reflexes, understanding the symptoms of each reflex, testing for retained reflexes and learning simple techniques using movement to inhibit them. This will improve a child's ability to overcome their challenges and give them the resources ready for learning. It is never too late to improve neural development, but the earlier the better.

03/06/2026

If parents and teachers are wanting to help their children who are struggling to learn with ease and achieve good grades, I highly recommend understanding the primitive reflexes, as these lay down the neurological foundations to Early Years development in every one of us.

Retained reflexes much past 5 years old will affect a child's ability to be able to learn with ease and enjoyment. The brain and sensory system must be developed sufficiently for the child to have the resources to be able to learn. If the brain is not 'wired up' well enough, the information from the senses will not reach areas of the brain to be processed quickly enough, and this results in poor Reading, Writing and Learning in general.

Using developmental movements to inhibit the reflexes is the most efficient, quickest and fun way to improve learning. Children love, and need to move to develop.

A book to explain and understand more about the primitive reflexes toward learning and sensory development, and is very readable is called 'Beyond the Sea sq**rt', A journey through the reflexes by Moira Dempsey.
Another book, but with more in-depth understanding, is called 'Movement Matters', also by Moira Dempsey.

16/05/2026

Having spoken to several teachers, they all say how frustrating and time-consuming it can be to try and teach a child, or children, who are struggling in their classroom. A child who is struggling with being able to learn means they are not developmentally ready, and pushing them to do something they cannot do will cause more stress to an already immature brain and sensory system.

For any child to be able to learn, first, all the senses need to be developed sufficiently, as they create the connections throughout the brain. This is the role of the primitive reflexes that every one of us are born with. Their role is to stimulate the senses that connect up the brain. Retained reflexes in a child much past 5 years old will affect the ability to be able to learn. Clear these first, using developmental movements that every baby should learn to do, epsecially during the first 12 months after birth, then the connections will be in-place and learning becomes easier, enjoyable and successful. Children will be able to achieve expected educational and developmental milestones, and higher grades, and a teacher's job becomes easier.

By developing the neurological foundations first, which means inhibiting any primitive reflexes still 'active', will develop the sensory system, then children will have the resources to be able to learn, and teaching will become easier with less time spent on trying to teach a child who is not ready.

The picture shows the developmental stages and sensory system. The GREEN circles at the bottom represent the reflexes. The RED cirlces at the top represent Reading, Writing, Math and Learning in general. As the reflexes play their role in developing the coloured circles between that represent the sensory system, reading, writing and learning will become easier and successful.

Imagine trying to teach a child if the right-hand bucket represented their level of development, or even if just a few holes/senses were filled. It's not fair on the child, or the teacher, but this is what is happening in many classrooms with children with learning difficulties, and teachers are not aware of the importance of this process of development toward why a child cannot learn.

Testing for retained reflexes is easy. Inhibiting reflexes is easy using developmental movements. Children love to move, so give them movements that stimulate and develop their sensory system for just a few minutes a day. The changes to learning are soon noticed and enjoyed, making it easier for both children and teacher.

This is the area I specialise in and would like to help teachers, parents and the Education system.

15/05/2026

At last, my newly designed website is up and running. If you are interested in taking a look, it is www.childdevelopmentmalta.com

There is lots of information in different sections about why learning challenges and developmental issues occur, and how movement can make wonderful changes to a child's ability to be able to learn with ease and enjoyment.
There are sections for professionals.

Please share with anyone you know who has a child that is struggling with learning, or not reaching developmental milestones. Simple movements can make all the difference with lifelong results.

Brain development, Neurological development and Child development centre in Malta providing information, appointments and training. Please call +356 7931 4508.

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: [email protected]

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