Who is the OT - Mom behind this website?

I have developed this website to share some of the ideas I have used with my own kids, as well as with the many children I have worked with over the last 13 years in different settings.

My passion for children and early childhood development started as a teenager when I became involved as a leader in Kids Clubs, Kids Camps and Holiday Clubs through our local church.

I studied Occupational Therapy at the University of Cape Town, graduating in 1997, and completed my postgrad studies in Sensory Integration in 2001. From 1998 until 2003 I was part of a thriving Occupational Therapy Private Practice for children in Cape Town, where much of my work focused particularly on Learning Disabilities and Sensory Modulation Disorders. As part of our practice, I was involved in 2 local schools where we treated learners on the school premises.

I married Andre, who is a pastor, in Dec 1998, and we had our first child, Jamie, in Sep 2002. After relocating to Hermanus in 2003, I "retired" from Occupational Therapy to focus on being a wife, mom, and pastor's wife. However, I had plenty of opportunity to put my knowledge into practice with Jamie, who has a sensory modulation disorder as well as poor coordination and weak fine motor skills. Our second son, Callum, was born in April 2005.

In 2006 I became involved on a part-time basis with Enlighten Education Trust an NGO whose aim is to uplift and support the local schools, many of which are struggling with a lack of resources. I have been placed at a local primary school, where my job as a special-needs facilitator includes implementing a basic enrichment programme for foundation phase/early elementary learners who are struggling.

I have also been involved in running training workshops for teachers in order to give them activities they can use in their classrooms to develop their pupils' gross motor skills, fine motor skills, visual perceptual skills, and more.

Two Zimbabwean boys from our local church joined us for two years of our homeschooling journey, learning English, Math and Science. We miss them terribly now that they attend a local school.

As a family we enjoy spending time outdoors, especially in the beautiful mountains all around us. We are indeed blessed to be living in Hermanus, South Africa! We enjoy camping, although Jamie and Callum are of the opinion that we don’t do it often enough! I cherish time with special friends, and look forward to our weekly moms Bible Study, and the monthly meetings of our church book club, where we discuss a book of the month that we have all read – John Piper has been our regular challenger!

I could not write this page without a reference to the Lord Jesus, who has given me Life and Hope in Him. I have a severe hearing impairment and was told as a child that I would not be able to work with people (my early dream was to be a doctor), and that I should go into research or work with books. After giving my heart and life to the Lord in 1991, He was my inspiration and my strength. John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full [abundantly]” and Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength”

I give God all the glory for what He has done in my life!

It is my hope that this website will encourage you as you strive to help the children in your life!

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