RBLM Updates
Want to know what we have been up to lately? You’ve come to the right place!
What the Debate About ADHD Reveals About School Expectations and Children’s Needs
By Amelia Hart October 21, 2026 A child’s difficulty paying attention deserves careful consideration, including what the child is being asked to do. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines ADHD as a neurodevelopmental disorder involving difficulties with attention, impulsivity, or excessive activity. Its guidance also recognises that symptoms can become more pronounced as everyday demands increase. That raises an educational question. How closely should schools examine
The Overlooked Connection Between Children’s Physical Development and Learning
written by Adam Bent September 1, 2026 Education has repeatedly looked to new tools and curricula for answers to persistent learning concerns. Computers carried that expectation in earlier decades, and artificial intelligence now occupies much of the conversation. Physical therapist Athena Oden believes technology can contribute to education, while also arguing that one quieter question deserves attention. Are children developmentally mature enough for the tasks and environments that school asks
How Movement Shapes Children’s Learning and Development
How Childhood Development Through Embodied Cognition Can Help Schools Better Support Learning and Emotional Growth Jason Phillips, Contributor July 15, 2026, 10:52 a.m. ET As neuroscience and developmental research seem to continue to advance, educators and health professionals appear to be revisiting long-held assumptions about how children learn. Athena Oden, pediatric physical therapist and founder of Ready Bodies, Learning Minds LLC, believes one area deserves particular attention: the relationship
Why the Future Education Depends on Restoring Child Development Before Raising Academic Expectations in Early Childhood
Athena Oden, Pediatric Physical Therapist, argues that many classroom challenges stem from developmental gaps rather than student deficits, calling for a renewed focus on whole-body development in early education. written by Adam Bent June 18, 2026 For many young children, the first signs of school difficulty appear long before they can be measured through grades or test scores. They may show up in the way a child sits, moves, listens,
Special Symposium
This 2024 event was such a success! A sharing of ideas focused on serving those in Collaborative Christian Schools, but ALL Christian schools are welcome! Bring your ideas and your questions! Ideal for Administrators, Teachers, Counselors and Support Members. Discussion topics will include: AdmissionsTerminology: Modifications and Accommodations vs Best PracticesBehaviorStaff TrainingPoliciesDiffering Supports in Lower and Upper SchoolsMotor DisabilitiesFunding and Staffing
Motor Lab Research
Action Research Project, Bulverde Elementary School, Comal ISD, TexasDr. Denise Kern In October of 2002, Athena Oden, creator of Ready Bodies, Learning Minds, and Dr. Denise Kern, Principal of Bulverde Elementary School in Comal Independent School District, began a controlled research project into the effectiveness of the motor lab developed by Athena Oden, physical therapist. The motor lab is a prescriptive motor development program that focuses on providing
RBLM Motor Lab
The RBLM motor lab addresses the needs of all students in task-oriented circuit training, supported by consistent, foundational exercises, offering developmental support for the sensory and motor systems.
About Us
Athena Oden, P.T. and author of the Ready Bodies Learning Minds workshop and curriculum, is widely known across the US for her down to earth approach to teaching and the practical and powerful nature of the Ready Bodies, Learning Minds program. Whether it is a presentation to hundreds of therapists or on the floor with children in a Ready Bodies Motor Lab, Athena is driven by the sincere desire to apply her knowledge to help those that choose to work with her.
