Primitive reflexes are automatic movement patterns that should be integrated in early childhood, and their persistence may be linked to motor and learning difficulties. As children’s lifestyles increasingly involve reduced physical activity and greater digital technology (DT) use, it is important to examine potential associations. This study aims to investigate the retention of the three primitive reflexes, namely ATNR, STNR, and TLR, in children aged 6 to 8 years, and to test whether it can be predicted by the time children spend engaging in different types of physical activities and using digital technology. The research was conducted as part of the project DigiLitA – The effect of environment on child development. The participants were 221 children (117 girls) aged 6 to 8 years (M = 7.06, SD = 0.33, Median = 7), first-grade students, along with one of their parents. Children were tested individually for persistence of the three types of primitive reflexes. Their parents provided estimates of the time the child spends in different physical activities and activities using DT. Results show that at least one of the three primitive reflexes that were tested was present in 59.5% of children. The hierarchical regression model shows that gender (entered at the first step) and frequency of the child engaging in activities such as riding a bike, scooter, or skates (entered at the second step) are significant predictors of the persistence of primitive reflexes. Boys and children who engage less frequently in coordination-demanding physical activities are more likely to have retention of primitive reflexes at their age. The model explained 6.2% of the variance. Using DT to play games for fun did not prove to be a significant predictor of primitive reflexes. These findings suggest that engagement in coordination-demanding physical activities, rather than recreational use of digital technology, is modestly associated with persistence of primitive reflexes in early school-age children.
