Posts by Alasia Hawkins

As a pediatric occupational therapy practitioner, I often meet parents who are doing everything they can to help their child succeed—but still notice things like poor posture, trouble focusing, or difficulty with coordination. What many families don’t realize is that these challenges can sometimes be connected to something called a primitive reflex—specifically, the Symmetrical Tonic…

When we think about the senses, we usually list the basics: sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing. But the human body is far more complex than that. One of the most powerful—yet often overlooked—senses is interoception. Interoception is sometimes called our 8th sense, and it plays a major role in helping us understand what’s happening…

(Read here to learn more about the basics of interoception and why it matters.) Here are some simple, low-pressure ideas you can try at home: “Body Check” Routines Create calm, predictable moments to check in with the body. Try asking questions like: • “What does your heart feel like right now—fast, slow, or something else?”…