Visual Skill and Primitive Reflex Development - Reflex Integration Through Play

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1 in 4 children struggle with vision-related learning challenges — and it’s not always about 20/20.

Even with perfect eyesight, many children face hidden visual perception and motor integration issues that disrupt reading, writing, focus, and classroom behavior. This course helps pediatric specialists uncover what traditional vision screenings miss — and gives them the tools to act.

Research shows up to 60% of children with ADHD have underlying visual processing issues. This course helps pediatric therapists and educators identify vision-based challenges that mimic or amplify attention struggles — and shows how to treat them through movement, reflex integration, and skill-building.

Join the LIVE course and empower your therapy or education practice with neuroscience-informed strategies

Does This Sound Like You?

You work with children who struggle with reading, writing, or tracking in the classroom.
You notice postural imbalances, poor coordination, or skipped lines when reading.
You’re overwhelmed by the complexity of visual processing and reflex patterns.
You want a simple, practical way to screen, understand, and support the children in your care.
If so, this course was designed for YOU.

What You’ll Learn

Recognize the stages of visual motor and perceptual development in early childhood.
Identify common visual-motor dysfunctions in young children using observation-based tools.
Recognize how retained primitive reflexes affect posture, coordination, and visual tracking.
Identify how visual processing issues may mimic or contribute to attention and learning difficulties, including ADHD.
Identify developmentally appropriate, play-based exercises to support reflex integration and visual-motor skill development.
Recognize how to support reading, attention, and classroom performance through movement-based strategies that enhance coordination and focus.

Why This Course?

In pediatric therapy and education, unaddressed visual processing challenges and retained primitive reflexes can stall developmental progress, frustrate children, and delay academic success. Yet many professionals are not taught how to identify or address the root causes.

This course bridges that gap. With practical tools, clear frameworks, and movement-based interventions, you’ll confidently:

Identify core visual motor delays
Recognize retained reflexes influencing posture and coordination
Design supportive and play-based exercises for better brain-body connection
Walk away with actionable knowledge you can use immediately

Who This Course Is For

Pediatric Occupational Therapists
Physical Therapists
Speech Therapists
Educators and Special Education Teachers
Students studying child development, education, or therapy
Parent educators and early intervention specialists

Join Pediatric Professionals Transforming Their Practice

Course Overview

This course is divided into clear, research-informed modules that integrate visual motor development, visual perceptual skills, and primitive reflex integration to support pediatric occupational therapists and educators.

Module 1: Foundations of Vision and Development (20 min)

Overview of vision development in early childhood
Anatomy of the eye and functional eye movements
Differences between visual acuity and visual perception

Module 2: Visual Motor and Visual Perceptual Skill Development (20 min)

Visual motor integration and its connection to function
Core visual perceptual skills
Visual perceptual red flags in children
Clinical observations and performance impact

Module 3: Primitive Reflexes and Vision (20 min)

Role of primitive reflexes in early development
How retained reflex patterns interfere with ocular motor function, posture, head alignment, tracking, and attention
Screening procedures

Module 4: Functional and Play-Based Interventions (20 min)

Movement-based and play-based strategies
Visual skill building exercises

Module 5: Clinical Applications and School Integration (25 min)

Treatment planning strategies for occupational therapists
Visual supports and adaptations in school settings
Collaborative planning with educators and parents
Home program development for carryover

Bonus: Therapist Toolkit
Final Quiz (10 min)
Exit Survey (5 min)

References

Anne S. Allen, Pat Nuse Pratt, et al. Occupational Therapy for Children‐3rd edition. 1996.

Patti Andrich, et al. Statistical Relationships Between Visual Skill Deficits and Retained Primitive Reflexes in Children. Optometry and Visual Performance, vol 6. 2018.

Carsone B, Green K, Torrence W, Henry B. Systematic Review of Visual Motor Integration in Children with Developmental Disabilities. Occup Ther Int. 2021.

M. Rhonda Folio, Rebecca R. Fewell. Peabody Developmental Motor Scales‐2nd edition. 2023.

Domingo-Sanz VA. Persistence of primitive reflexes associated with asymmetries in fixation and ocular motility values. J Eye Mov Res. 2024.

Erzsébet Sarlós. Investigating The Association Between Retained Primitive Reflexes and Partial Visual Abilities in Children Aged 4–8 Years. 4th Intl Conf on Adv Research in Education. 2021.

Sheng Zhou, et al. Improving children’s visual health by integrating motor imagery training into physical education classes. Front. Psychol. 2025.

Average Review Score:

★★★★★

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About Instructor

Kokeb McDonald, OTR/L

I'm a pediatric occupational therapist, author, and coach with a strong passion for helping people develop into their healthiest selves. As a mother of two wonderful children, I bring genuine care and compassion to my mission to transform occupational therapy. As the creator of the Reflex Integration Through Play method and book series, I created these resources not only because they offer fellow professionals a tool to expand their clinical reach, but also because they are empowering and reassuring tools for frustrated parents. Join me in learning to better serve the children around us.

18 Courses

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297 USD

Course Includes

12 Lessons
Course Certificate
0.2 AOTA CEUs
2.0 Contact Hours

AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.

Contact us with questions or accessibility requests at admin@polaristherapy.com.

Polaris Therapy, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID# 13880. This Distance Learning-Interactive, Distance Learning-Independent activity is offered at 0.2 CEUs, Introductory Level, Foundational Knowledge, OT Service Delivery. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition.

Course content may refer to other products or services produced by Polaris Therapy, LLC. Note that the instructor and Polaris Therapy, LLC may benefit financially from purchases of these products.

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