Early Roots

10/02/2026

I made an announcement on my email list and personal page recently that the midwifery practice I have worked for, for the last 7 years closed. It's been a sad transition for me, but has spurred me to focus more on Early Roots and growing this practice.

When I made the announcement, I had several families who I haven't worked with in years send me updates and offer to leave testimonials and reviews. I've gotten teary-eyed more than once this week reading their messages and hearing updates on how their kids are doing now.

I remember this boy SO well.

09/28/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SerrWpDUdFo

If learning, behavior, or big emotions seem harder for your child than they should be, there may be more going on beneath the surface.

Sometimes struggles with attention, reading, handwriting, emotional regulation, memory, or behavior can look like completely separate problems.

But sometimes, they’re different signs that a child is working incredibly hard without all of the foundational developmental tools they need.

This is the work I do at Early Roots.

Rather than only asking, “How do we help this child try harder?” I look at the developmental foundations underneath learning and behavior—and what might be making everyday things harder than they need to be.

I made this short video to explain what that looks like and why these struggles don’t always mean a child is stuck.

If this reminds you of your child—or a family you know—I’d love for you to watch and share it. ❤️

What do meltdowns, difficulty focusing, and trouble with reading al...

09/27/2026

09/25/2026

A meltdown isn’t something we have to “fix.”

When our kids are overwhelmed, it can be so tempting to try to make the crying, yelling, or big emotions stop. But sometimes the goal isn’t to stop the emotion—it’s to help our kids move through it safely.

I loved this part of my conversation with Gabriele Nicolet because it’s such an important shift:

We can hold the boundary.
We can stay present.
And we can let our kids have their feelings.

In this episode, Gabriele and I talk about what’s actually happening during big emotional moments—and how understanding what’s underneath the behavior can change the way we respond.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of the Early Roots Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

07/17/2026

Fun chat with Dr. Laura Brayton all about fetility and preconception health! You can listen to the full episode on The Early Roots Podcast.

07/16/2026

These are the 5 signs I see most often in children who still have retained primitive reflexes.

✔️ Big emotions
✔️ Difficulty focusing
✔️ Social challenges
✔️ Learning struggles
✔️ Developmental diagnoses

These don't automatically mean your child has retained reflexes—but if several sound familiar, it may be worth taking a closer look.

🔗 Link in bio for a free phone consultation.

07/15/2026

I am loving having guests on! Check out my conversation with Dr. Laura Brayton on the latest episode of The Early Roots Podcast.

07/05/2026

This little boy is on the spectrum and has always struggled with communication. We are currently working on his startle reflex and vestibular system and he is doing so well! On top of these changes he is also more emotionally expressive and aware of others.

07/04/2026

When most children struggle in school, we naturally focus on the academic skills themselves.

More tutoring.
More practice.
Different curriculum.

Sometimes that's exactly what's needed.

But sometimes the struggle starts much earlier.

The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) is a primitive reflex that's supposed to integrate during infancy. When it remains active, it can interfere with many of the foundational skills children rely on every day in school.

A retained ATNR may contribute to challenges with:
• Reading and tracking across a page
• Handwriting and copying from the board
• Crossing midline
• Coordination and posture
• Visual skills
• Attention and endurance during schoolwork

That doesn't mean every child who struggles with reading has a retained ATNR—but it's one piece of development that's often overlooked.

One of the things I love most about neuro-developmental therapy is that it encourages us to ask a different question.

Instead of asking,
"How do we help this child read?"

We also ask,
"What developmental foundations does this child need in order for reading to become easier?"

Sometimes the answer isn't more reading practice.

Sometimes it's helping the brain and body build the foundations that reading depends on.

If you've never heard of primitive reflexes before, you're definitely not alone.

❤️ Save this post so you can come back to it later, and send it to another parent or educator who might find it helpful.

06/23/2026

This 12-year-old came to me struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, emotional immaturity, and significant academic delays.

Like many children I see, everyone was focused on the symptoms.

The anxiety.

The reading struggles.

The overwhelm.

The frustration.

But symptoms don't appear out of nowhere.

When we looked deeper, we found several foundational developmental skills that weren't fully in place yet.

Instead of spending months drilling reading practice or teaching coping strategies, we focused on the systems that come before those skills:

• Primitive reflex integration
• Vestibular development
• Visual tracking and convergence
• Nervous system regulation

Six months later:

✔ No anxiety episodes in two months
✔ Calmer and more relaxed
✔ Reading nearly at grade level
✔ Reading for fun for the first time

This is why I always encourage parents to look beyond the behavior, diagnosis, or academic struggle.

When a child is having difficulty with regulation, learning, attention, communication, or social skills, the question isn't:

"How do we make them try harder?"

The question is:

"Do they have the tools they need to function?"