Kokeb McDonald builds on a recent Q&A session from inside the RITP Certification Program to offer a deeper, more holistic approach to pediatric screening. Beyond simply identifying retained reflexes, Kokeb highlights three essential areas that every therapist should be considering during evaluations: reflex patterns, functional movement, and developmental/social connection. You’ll learn how to spot compensation patterns, why observing children in natural play environments is so crucial, and how movement, milestones, and communication all work together for effective treatment planning. Whether you're a therapist, clinic owner, educator, or parent, this episode is packed with insight you can start using today!

🔗 – Learn more about our RITP Certification Program: https://ritp.info/certification

Episode Highlights

[02:00] The big picture: reflex integration is just one part of the screening process

[03:00] Screening for reflex patterns—what to look for

[04:30] Observing compensations and overflows during testing

[05:00] Structured vs. natural environments in reflex screening

[05:45] Functional movement: sit-to-stand, crawling, and posture

[06:45] Recognizing how retained reflexes can affect classroom behavior

[07:30] Developmental milestones: what was skipped or delayed?

[08:15] Quality of movement vs. just hitting milestones

[08:50] Emotional and social connections in screening—how the child interacts

[09:30] Body awareness, joint attention, and expressive ability

[10:00] Sensory processing and the foundation of reflex integration

[11:30] Building personalized treatment plans through observation and data

#PediatricTherapy #ReflexIntegration #OccupationalTherapy #RITP #SensoryProcessing #DevelopmentalMilestones #FunctionalMovement #ParentSupport #TherapyTools #ChildDevelopment #RITPPodcast