Sensory Therapy with Earl

Sensory Therapy with Earl I’m Earl, occupational therapist(OT). I translate complex sensory integration & neurodevelopmental science into practical, easy-to-implement strategies.

Access FREE guide: https://stan.store/sensorytherapyplace

06/14/2026

How do I help my child ride their bike?

If your child struggles with bike riding, balance, steering, or keeping their body steady, it may not be a confidence problem.

It may be connected to ATNR — the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex.

ATNR is a primitive reflex that can affect how the body coordinates the right and left sides. When this reflex is still active, turning the head may cause the arm and leg on one side to want to extend while the opposite side bends.

Now imagine trying to ride a bike…

Your child has to look forward, steer, pedal, balance, shift weight, and stay upright all at the same time.

That is a lot for the nervous system.

Signs this may show up during bike riding:

✅ difficulty steering straight
✅ trouble coordinating pedaling
✅ leaning or falling to one side
✅ avoiding bike riding
✅ frustration when turning the head
✅ poor balance or postural control
✅ difficulty using both sides of the body together

Before pushing more practice, we may need to build the foundation first:

cross crawls, crawling patterns, obstacle courses, visual tracking, core strengthening, balance activities, and reflex integration work.

Bike riding is not just a milestone.

It is a full-body brain-body coordination skill.

Save this if your child is learning to ride a bike this summer.

Follow for more pediatric OT tips on balance, coordination, sensory processing, and primitive reflexes.

06/07/2026

There is a profound difference between a typical preference… and a nervous system that is chronically running on high alert and sympathetic driven.
When a child’s baseline looks like anxiety, shutdown, panic, or extreme sensitivity, we have to look deeper.

Sometimes, the body is still responding as if it is not safe.

Early survival mechanisms, like the Fear Paralysis Reflex, can stay switched on — keeping the child in a protective state.

When this happens, their little system may struggle to feel safe, adapt to transitions, tolerate change, or trust the people around them.

In the clinic, I see loving parents exhausted from trying to “talk” their child out of anxiety.

But listen…

You cannot logic a nervous system out of an active reflex.

We have to help the body feel safe first.

Full video is on YouTube.

06/04/2026

What are symptoms associated with the Fear Paralysis Reflex — also known as a strong startle response?

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I often explain it this way:

Some kids don’t shut down because they’re ignoring you.

Their nervous system may be overwhelmed.

The Fear Paralysis Reflex is one of the earliest protective reflex patterns. When this reflex remains active, a child may look “too sensitive,” “anxious,” “avoidant,” or emotionally reactive…

but underneath, their body may be trying to protect them.

Common signs may include:

• strong startle response
• freezing when overwhelmed
• shutting down after stress
• emotional dysregulation
• sensitivity to loud sounds
• fear of trying something new
• anxiety with transitions
• appearing disconnected or “stuck”
• difficulty calming once upset
• needing extra reassurance to feel safe

From a nervous system regulation lens, this can connect with fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown responses.

This is why I always tell parents:

Behavior is communication.

Sometimes the behavior we see is really the nervous system saying,

“I don’t feel safe yet.”

At Sensory Therapy Place, we look beyond the behavior and ask:

What is the body trying to tell us?

Because when a child feels safe in their body, regulation becomes more possible.

Comment “REFLEX” if you want more parent-friendly posts on primitive reflexes, sensory processing, and nervous system regulation.



05/24/2026

nature explore = sensory therapy
If you are thinking hiking this trail Watch full video for guide in YT: Earl Mamaril

05/21/2026

Balance board Pt. 1 is a great tool to have at home for your kids to develop their vestibular system and channel their energy for sensory seekers! #

05/21/2026

Kids work out ideas.

05/16/2026

Save it for later, who would have thought that Running with parachute would be fun!

05/16/2026

Sensory therapy tools like fidgets are way so cool now compared to what we had..

02/12/2026

If your child is often anxious, easily overwhelmed, or has big reactions to small surprises, we have to look deeper than behavior. The Moro reflex is a primitive startle reflex that is designed to help infants respond to sudden changes in light, sound, movement, or head position. When this reflex remains active beyond infancy, the nervous system can stay on high alert, making everyday experiences feel threatening. You might notice hypersensitivity to water on the face during bath time, strong emotional outbursts, difficulty with transitions, motion sensitivity, poor balance, light or sound sensitivity, or even frequent meltdowns after minor stressors. These children are not misbehaving; their brain and body are reacting as if they are in danger. Integrating the Moro reflex through rhythmic movement, proprioceptive input, and structured startle pattern exercises helps calm the fight or flight response and support emotional regulation. Over time, this can improve tolerance to sensory input, increase resilience, and help your child feel safer in their own body. When the nervous system feels safe, learning, attention, and connection naturally improve.

02/08/2026

Moro Reflex exercise to support emotional development.
Did you know that Moro reflex is part of our startle response?
This can help me kids with lots of anxiety and fearful about sudden movement.
Do it for 8-10 times and incorporate it to your routine.

Follow for more pediatric OT exercise

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41 Acme Rd.
Brewer, ME
04412

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