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Get ready for an AMAZING conversation with Stefanie, proud Mama to the incredible Lilly. She shares her journey with her daughter and her daughter’s Autism Service Dog, Indy, in this episode as well as on Instagram. After listening to this conversation, make sure you follow Stefanie and Lilly, reach out to them, and show them some love!
When you think about crawling, your mind might jump to babies exploring their world for the first time. But did you know that crawling is much more than a developmental milestone?
Crawling is a powerful tool for enhancing brain development, improving focus, and even calming the nervous system—for people of all ages. Whether you’re a parent of a child with sensory challenges or an occupational therapist looking for effective tools, crawling can be a game-changer.
Crawling isn’t just about mobility; it’s about wiring the brain for success. Research has shown that skipping developmental stages like tummy time and crawling can be linked to challenges like:
Learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia)
Retained primitive reflexes
Difficulties with sensory processing
Crawling strengthens the connections between different areas of the brain. These connections, in turn, support higher-level skills such as reading, writing, focus, and emotional regulation.
So, how does crawling achieve all this? It engages multiple systems at once:
Proprioception: Crawling provides calming and organizing input to the muscles and joints, making it a perfect sensory regulation tool.
Visual Tracking: Looking ahead and tracking hand movements strengthens eye coordination, essential for reading and other visual tasks.
Cross-Lateral Movement: When opposite limbs move together, it strengthens communication between the brain’s left and right hemispheres, laying the groundwork for tasks that require coordination and focus.
Crawling isn’t just for babies. Rachel emphasizes that her program is designed for everyone—from children to adults, even grandparents.
Here’s who it can help:
Children Who Skipped Crawling: Kids who bypassed this milestone may face challenges with primitive reflexes and brain-body coordination.
Individuals with ADHD: Crawling activities can help improve focus, attention, and regulation.
Older Adults: Geriatric populations can use crawling to maintain mobility, strengthen reflexes, and enhance brain health.
Rachel’s book outlines a five-week curriculum, making it easy to start. Here’s a sneak peek at how you can incorporate crawling:
Start Simple: Begin with basic crawling patterns and progress as skills improve.
Make It Fun: Turn crawling into a game with children—crawl like dinosaurs or bears.
Use It for Brain Breaks: Take a quick crawl break during work or study sessions to reset and refocus.
Focus on Form: Ensure hands are flat on the floor and the head looks forward for maximum benefits.
Crawling is a powerful yet simple tool for sensory regulation. Its proprioceptive input helps calm and organize the nervous system, while the active movement offers a natural and effective way to channel energy.
Whether you’re navigating transitions between activities or managing intense emotions, crawling stands out as an approachable yet profoundly impactful strategy. Whether your goal is to support your child’s development, boost your focus, or maintain physical and cognitive health as you age, this foundational movement holds transformative potential for all stages of life.
BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties and what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.
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