{"id":349,"date":"2025-07-13T04:56:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-13T04:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/headoverhills.com.au\/?p=349"},"modified":"2025-09-11T12:01:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:01:43","slug":"3-reasons-why-your-child-cant-sit-still","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/headoverhills.com.au\/index.php\/2025\/07\/13\/3-reasons-why-your-child-cant-sit-still\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Your Child Can’t Sit Still!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cWhy can\u2019t they just sit still?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A comment I hear so much! And a challenge I love helping to reduce!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your child seems to bound through the day with endless energy, struggles to sit still in class or at home, is fidgeting, constantly on the move, bounding out of their chair at the dinner table, moving from one activity to the next or wriggling and writhing when sitting anywhere, then know they are not alone!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many reasons why this may be. Some reasons help us to embrace or at least understand a child\u2019s energy and need for movement, even if it exhausts us as parents! Other reasons may point to a specific need for reflex integration to integrate particular reflexes contributing to the restlessness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at why your child may be on the move!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spinal Galant Reflex<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A big contributor to the restless or \u2018on the move\u2019 child is the Spinal Galant reflex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a primitive reflex that is foundational in the natural birthing process. During birth, the vaginal contractions trigger the reflex producing a twitch of the hips to the side. This sashaying movement of the hips, triggered by each contraction, assists the infant in fish-tailing their way down the birth canal. The birth process is the centre stage for this reflex and is what this reflex emerged for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interruptions of any sort to the birthing process means this reflex often \u2018hangs around\u2019 in the body waiting for its moment to fully \u2018perform.\u2019  While hanging around, it interrupts a child or adult\u2019s ability to function and can create challenges with focus and attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While before birth the reflex is triggered by the contractions, outside of the womb the reflex can continue to be triggered by stimulation to the lower part of the spine. Think of scratchy labels on the waistbands of clothes, a child sitting in a school chair with their back contacting the chair, rolling over in bed onto their back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your child ticks the box for any of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n