The short answer: children's neurodevelopment builds from the bottom up, like a pyramid. The nervous system sits at the base, then movement, then the gut and body, and learning, emotions and focus sit at the top. When we only work on the top, we can miss what the rest of the pyramid is resting on.
Why most of us start at the top
When a child is struggling, we notice what's at the top first: big emotions, trouble focusing, behaviour at school, speech that's taking a while to come. That's what everyone sees, so it's naturally where we start.
So parents try things. Cutting out sugar, changing diets, more screen limits, more routines. Often a dietitian, naturopath or GP gets involved, or an OT or speech pathologist. These are all good people doing good work.
But here's what I share with every parent: we're building from the body up, not the brain down.
This is the picture I draw for parents. Start at the bottom and work up.
1. The base: the nervous system. Everything sits on this. The central and autonomic nervous system runs how your child senses the world, moves, digests, sleeps and handles stress. If the base isn't steady, everything above it has to work harder. This is where chiropractic care fits: supporting the nervous system so the rest of the pyramid has a solid foundation. (More in What is the vagus nerve?)
2. Movement: the neuromotor level. Next is how the body moves: balance, coordination, posture and getting the body working together. This is where OTs and paediatric physios do brilliant work, helping kids build these skills through movement and play.
3. The body: gut and immune system. Above that sits the gut and immune system, which a lot of parents already know is connected to the brain. Dietitians, naturopaths and GPs often support kids at this level, with things like nutrition and diet changes.
4. The top: the brain. At the top is everything we see: emotions, focus, behaviour, learning and speech. Speech pathologists, psychologists and teachers support kids here.
The pyramid isn't about one level being more important than another. Every level matters. It's about the order things build in. A child's brain is trying to do its best work on top of everything underneath it.
Why the whole team matters
No single practitioner covers the whole pyramid, and nobody should try to. The kids who do best usually have a team around them: their GP, their OT or speechie, their dentist, their teachers, and their family at the centre of it all.
My role is the base. I look after the nervous system, keep in touch with your child's GP and the other people in their corner, and make sure everyone's working together. When the people looking after a child talk to each other, the child is the one who benefits.
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Quick questions
What does "body up, not brain down" mean? It means children's development builds from the foundations up: nervous system, then movement, then body, then brain. Supporting the lower levels helps give the top a solid base.
Does chiropractic replace OT or speech therapy? No. Every level of the pyramid matters, and we work alongside OTs, speech pathologists and other practitioners, never instead of them.
Where does chiropractic fit? At the base, supporting the nervous system, as part of your child's wider team.
