Eve Kodiak

Reflexes:The Rosetta Stone of Children’s Movement

The primitive reflexes are an essential ingredient in the soup of human development. Understanding the signals children send us in “reflex” code,and knowing how to respond to these signals,can spell the difference between success and failure in communication,teaching,and nurturing. This workshop gives a practical overview of some of the key reflex movements,what they mean,and ways to integrate them through songs and games.
We will:
1. discuss the neurological basis of primitive reflexes.
2. explore some of these movement patterns
3. find ways to choreograph these reflex movements into our own favorite songs
4. discuss how to use reflex integration to assist us with goals like
a. classroom management
b. musical competency
c. emotional integration
d. gross and fine motor skills
e. cognitive processing
f. addressing special needs

For example,  what do we do when a child seems frozen,  unable to move or learn (Fear Paralysis Reflex)? What do we do when a child is explosive (Moro Reflex)? Or slumps,  has no backbone (Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex)? Or wiggles constantly (Spinal Galant Reflex? Or is always on some other m ental page (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex)?  Or clingy and weepy (Early Uterine Reflexes)? Or can’t coordinate hands and voice (Babkin Palmomental Reflex)?

We’ll explore creative answers to these questions – and other questions participants bring to the class.

Objectives

  1. To understand Primitive Reflexes,and the role they play in human development

  2. How to recognize and interpret active reflexes in a teaching situation

  3. Learning a vocabulary of reflex movements and techniques for integrating them

  4. Finding creative ways to incorporate these movements into songs and games to integrate learning of all kinds

  5. Answering questions and special concerns of participants

Bio

Eve Kodiak combines a background in music,  kinesiology,  and human development. She is the
author/composer of Rappin’ on the Reflexes,an educational CD/book for integrating the sense
through movement and music. A frequent presenter at conferences (American Orff-Schulwerk
Assosciation,  Brain Gym International,  ECMMA),  Eve specializes in giving participants an
understanding of the neuroogical basis for their work,as well as techniques for enhancing it.

Movement Matters,her blog for the ECMMA website,  is another way she shares information about
working with young children in developmentally appropriate ways through movement and
music. She practices at The Lydian Center for Innovative Medicine in Cambridge,  MA,  where she
works with people of all ages with Brain Gym,  reflex integration,  craniosacral therapy,  and
music. She also is a performing and recording pianist,  her most recent album being The Return of
Desire with Grammy-winning cellist David Darling. Eve Kodiak holds degrees from Harvard
University and The New England Conservatory of Music,  and a license from the Educational
Kinesiology Foundation. More information about Eve Kodiak can be found via her website,
evekodiak.com.