Is Your Child Struggling Like Axel Did?

If your child struggles with focus, sitting still, or feeling overwhelmed, I want to share a story that completely changed how I prioritize daily brain development—and it might change everything for you, too.

It’s about my son, Axel.

As a baby, Axel didn’t get enough time crawling on his hands and knees. Like many parents, I was navigating my own stress without realizing how much my anxious energy was affecting him. That chaos disrupted his ability to integrate his primitive reflexes—the foundational movements babies need to wire their brains for future success.

Fast forward to school age, and it showed up in ways that felt so frustrating for both of us:

• He couldn’t sit still—rocking in his chair, needing to move constantly.
• He felt overwhelmed when too many things were happening at once.
• He struggled to focus—his brain was processing too much all at once.

It wasn’t because he was “difficult” or needed to “try harder.”

His brain just needed more time to crawl.

See, crawling isn’t just a cute milestone—it’s how the midbrain develops. This part of the brain is in charge of:

• Filtering out distractions so kids can focus.
• Helping them stay organized and follow multi-step directions.
• Regulating movement so they can sit still and feel calm in their bodies.

When kids don’t get enough time crawling, their nervous systems don’t get the foundation they need. And that can make everything feel harder—both for them and for you.

But here’s the incredible part: The brain can always reorganize itself.

For just 20 minutes a few days a week, Axel revisited this missing milestone, and today, at nine years old, he:
✔ Can focus on tasks without feeling overwhelmed.
✔ Knows how to regulate his own nervous system.
✔ Understands that nothing was ever wrong with him—his brain just needed a chance to catch up.

And now, I have to ask—does this sound like your child?

If they struggle with:

• Staying on task or following directions.
• Feeling constantly distracted or overstimulated.
• Managing frustration, big emotions, or transitions.

It might not be about behavior. It might not be about effort.

It might be about their brain needing more time to do what it was always meant to do.

And the best part? It’s not too late.

At ITC, we help kids (and adults!) go back and integrate the movement patterns their brains missed—so they can focus, self-regulate, and feel good in their bodies.

And here’s something fun—you can find out where your child’s midbrain development is just by seeing how they crawl today. Try it! Have them crawl on all fours and tag us on Instagram(@inthecortex_US). We’ll tell you exactly where their midbrain might have left off in development.

This isn’t an April Fool’s joke—this is real. Crawling matters.

And every child deserves the chance to feel calm, confident, and in control of their brain and body.

Are you ready to help them get there?

Click here to get started with the In The Cortex Brain Reorganization Program today. 

When you become an ITC member, we're with you on this journey every step of the way,

Dani + Paloma