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Dr Tessa Grigg - PhD, Dip Tch (Primary) Dip Tch (ECE) - has a wide range of experience within the Early Childhood Education field. She has taught in a Primary School, supervised a preschool with specialist work in the sensory-motor area, worked as a Child and Family Therapist, taught adult students in teaching and child development, and owned and operated a GymbaROO centre for nine years. Tessa is the "Tessa" in Tessarose Productions, a business that has produced music for children for over 30 years.
Currently, Tessa is a certified Rhythmic Movement Training Practitioner and runs a Kinesiology clinic for children and adults. She has published some research and has co-authored Grandparenting Grandchildren with Dr Jane Williams. Following the completion of a PhD focused on children's primitive reflexes, Tessa now works part-time as a lecturer at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and is the Research and Education Manager for GymbaROO-KindyROO in Australia.
Research -
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All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
In a world filled with high-tech therapies and complex interventions, it can be easy to overlook the profound power of simple, intentional movement. We had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Tessa, a seasoned educator and kinesiologist from New Zealand.
Her message? Foundational movements like crawling and skipping can dramatically impact a child’s development—no expensive program required.
Early movement patterns lay the groundwork for future learning and behavior. Movements such as crawling and skipping activate areas of the brain tied to coordination, attention, and emotional regulation.
These gross motor patterns also support the integration of primitive reflexes—automatic movements developed in infancy that should ideally fade as a child matures. When primitive reflexes remain active beyond the first few years of life, they can disrupt attention, impulse control, and sensory processing.
Dr. Tessa shared a powerful example: a preschool classroom that saw remarkable improvement in physical and cognitive skills simply by implementing daily crawling as part of their routine.
“These kids didn’t do a formal program. They just crawled every day around the tables before morning tea. The transformation was incredible.”
Dr. Tessa also led a study using Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT) with 6- to 7-year-olds. Half the class performed four simple reflex-integration exercises each day for six months.
The result? Improved reading scores, better emotional regulation, and noticeable changes in classroom behavior.
Teachers reported: stronger attention spans, more cohesive class environments, and better emotional control.
Daily practice mattered: The best outcomes came from classes that practiced the exercises daily. Those who skipped days saw fewer gains.
Bonus benefit: One student even reported his soccer game improved because he could move "around the legs faster."
Dr. Tessa made a striking discovery during her research: most of the children with high retained reflex scores were born around the time of the devastating Christchurch earthquake. These "earthquake babies" had either been in utero or newly born during the trauma, highlighting how prenatal stress can deeply impact neurodevelopment.
She warns that we may see similar patterns in "pandemic babies" who were gestating or in early development during COVID-19 lockdowns. High parental stress, isolation, and disrupted routines are key contributors to reflex retention.
The good news? Supporting reflex integration doesn’t have to be complicated.
Build crawling into transitions: From the door to the mat, or around the table.
Encourage crab walks, bear crawls, and tunnels at home.
Skipping builds rhythm and coordination.
Practice long skipping sequences to encourage cross-lateral movement.
10 minutes a day can make a world of difference.
Choose 1–2 exercises your child enjoys and build from there.
"It’s like broccoli. You can’t eat it once a month and expect results. Reflex work needs consistency."
Dr. Tessa emphasizes the unique power of collective movement in group settings. When a whole classroom does reflex work together, there's shared energy and motivation that amplifies the benefits.
But don’t let that discourage families at home. Parents can make major progress too, especially when they engage alongside their children.
"Make it a family thing. Wrestle on the floor. Crawl together. That connection is just as important as the movement itself."
Dr. Tessa has worked with countless children misdiagnosed with ADHD or other developmental disorders, only to see their symptoms dramatically improve with reflex integration.
Many behaviors often labeled as attention disorders can be linked to retained reflexes.
Her approach: Combine movement therapy, nutrition, and emotional support (like kinesiology) for the best outcomes.
_"It doesn’t mean ADHD isn’t real—but sometimes, it’s not ADHD. It’s a brain-body mismatch we can address with the right tools."
Do What Works: Focus on 1–2 movements your child enjoys and will consistently do.
Reflexes Are Fixable: Almost every child can see improvement with consistent support.
Keep Hope Alive: Progress is always possible, no matter where your child is starting from.
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.
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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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