What are the opening hours?

Monday 08:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00 Thursday 08:00 - 17:00 Friday 08:00 - 17:00

http://www.ashleydearlingot.co.za/

Ashley Dearling Occupational Therapists, Ballitoville (2025)

11/07/2025

📚 Therapist’s Book Club with Rachel Carey 📚

We’ve been loving the .therapists.bookclub, hosted monthly online by the incredible Occupational Therapist, Rachel Carey. Each month, Rachel takes us through a different thought-provoking book about child development, creating a space for learning, reflection, and practical takeaways for therapists, teachers, parents, and anyone passionate about supporting children.

Last month, we explored “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt, a powerful and eye-opening read. The insights we gained were not only fascinating but deeply relevant to the challenges today’s children face. It’s clear that helping children not just survive but truly thrive will take a shared, intentional effort from parents, teachers, and health professionals working together.

💡 Over the next two posts, we’ll be sharing some of the key takeaways from this important book, along with practical suggestions for what we as parents, teachers, and therapists can do to help.

We can’t wait to see what’s next in Rachel’s Therapist’s Book Club as she continues to lead us through more incredible reads. This welcoming space is open to anyone, parents, teachers, therapists, or anyone passionate about child development—and we highly encourage you to join in!

17/06/2025

Happy Birthday, Tilly! All of us at Ashley Dearling Occupational Therapists are sending you our love and best wishes on your special day! 💐🎂

We’ve missed your warmth, professionalism, and that ever-positive energy while you’ve been away on maternity leave. The practice just hasn’t been the same without your smile, stories and laughter!

We hope you’re enjoying every precious moment with your little princess, and that today you get a chance to celebrate you. We can't wait to welcome you back next month!

With love,
The ADOT Team 💙

15/06/2025

The Invaluable Role of Fathers in Early Childhood Development. This Father's Day, we celebrate the incredible impact fathers have on their children's development. Research consistently shows that engaged fathers contribute uniquely to their children's growth in ways that complement and enhance overall development.

Fathers excel at:
• Physical play and risk-taking - Encouraging climbing, jumping, and adventurous activities that build confidence and motor skills
• Problem-solving approaches - Often using different strategies that expand children's thinking patterns
• Emotional regulation - Teaching children to manage big feelings through calm, steady presence
• Independence building - Encouraging children to "have a go" and persist through challenges
• Spatial and mathematical thinking - Engaging in construction play, puzzles, and logical reasoning activities

The father-child bond supports:
• Enhanced self-esteem and confidence
• Better social skills and peer relationships
• Improved academic outcomes
• Stronger emotional resilience
• Reduced behavioural difficulties

To all the dedicated fathers supporting their children's development journey - your presence, patience, and play make an immeasurable difference.

Thank you for being champions of your children's growth. Happy Father's Day! 👨‍👧‍👦

05/06/2025

🏆 Quick Reminder: Best of Ballito 2025 🏆 We're nominated for Best Occupational Therapists in the Best of Ballito 2025 awards! If you've experienced the difference our therapy makes and feel we've made a positive impact in your child's life or the lives of others, we'd be honoured by your support! Voting is still open until 14 June 2025.

Vote at: https://www.bestofsouthafrica.co.za/ballito/bob-voting-category-medical/

Thank you for being part of our community! 💕

29/05/2025

The Magic of Play: Our Journey Through Development. "Play is the work of childhood." - Jean Piaget
As we conclude our exploration of play types—from sensory and exploratory to cooperative and mastery—we've seen how each form serves as a crucial developmental building block.

Through our series, we've highlighted how seemingly simple play activities are actually sophisticated learning opportunities. Whether it's developing fine motor skills through constructive play or building social understanding through role play, each play experience shapes neural pathways and developmental skills.

As occupational therapists, we recognise play not as a luxury or distraction, but as children's primary occupation—their natural way of developing the physical, cognitive, and emotional skills needed for life.

We hope these insights into different play types have provided both understanding and practical ideas for supporting your child's development. The blocks scattered across your floor, the imaginary tea parties, and those repetitive games aren't just play—they're laying foundations for a lifetime of learning.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the world of play!

27/05/2025

🔄 Mastery Play: The Joy of Repetition & Skill Building
Ever notice how children love to repeat the same activity over and over? This isn't just repetition, it's "Mastery Play," a crucial developmental stage where practice leads to confidence and real skill development!

Why It Matters:
- Develops neural pathways for automatic skill ex*****on
- Builds confidence through competence
- Strengthens persistence and resilience
- Refines motor planning and coordination
Creates deep learning through repetition

From an OT perspective, mastery play represents the child's natural drive to perfect skills until they become automatic. That child who jumps off the same step 20 times isn't just being repetitive, they're calibrating their body, refining their balance, and experiencing the joy of growing competence.

Clever Play Ideas:

1. "Bean Bag Bowling" - Set up small pins or stacked blocks for children to knock down with bean bags. The repetitive throwing motion builds arm control, aim, and visual-motor skills while providing immediate feedback and success.

2. "Magnetic Fishing Fun" - Using a simple magnetic fishing game, children practice the same hand-eye coordination movements repeatedly as they collect the fish. This builds fine motor control, visual tracking, and precision.

Pro Tip: Resist the urge to rush children through repetitive play, it's their brain's way of perfecting neural pathways and building confidence!

23/05/2025

🗣️ Language Play: Words in Motion
Language play combines communication development with active engagement, creating rich learning opportunities.

Why It Matters:
• Develops verbal expression
• Enhances auditory processing
• Builds phonological awareness
• Supports social communication
• Strengthens cognitive flexibility

From an OT perspective, language play offers opportunities to combine communication development with motor planning and social interaction. We use it to address multiple developmental areas while supporting communication skills.

Clever Play Ideas:
1. "Word-Picture Matching Relay" - Set up picture cards at one end of the room and word cards at the other. Children run to find matching pairs.
2. "Sound & Spell" - Display an image (like a dog) and provide letter tiles spread around the room. Children make the sound of each letter ("d" "o" "g"), collect the corresponding tiles, and arrange them to spell the word matching the picture.

Pro Tip: Notice how language play interactions reflect overall development and processing patterns.

21/05/2025

👥 Role Play: Stepping Into New Perspectives
Role play is more than just pretending - it's actively practising different social roles and understanding various perspectives.

Why It Matters:
• Develops perspective-taking abilities
• Enhances social awareness
• Builds communication skills
• Supports problem-solving
• Strengthens adaptive responses

From an OT perspective, role play provides valuable opportunities for practising social skills, motor planning, and adaptive responses in a safe context. We use it to address everything from social communication to daily living skills.

Clever Play Ideas:
1. "Daily Life Skills Theatre" - Create playful scenarios focusing on life skills (making beds, setting tables, packing bags) with fun twists to maintain engagement.
2. "Problem-Solving Players" - Set up role-play scenarios that require creative problem-solving, combining cognitive flexibility with social understanding. Example: "Restaurant Dilemmas" - Role-play restaurant scenarios with unexpected problems (forgotten order, spilled drink, food allergy) that require children to develop solutions through communication and perspective-taking.

Pro Tip: Pay attention to how children adapt their roles - it often indicates their understanding of social dynamics and daily routines.

19/05/2025

🎲 Games with Rules: Structured Play for Skill Building
Games with rules offer more than just fun - they provide structured opportunities for developing executive function, social skills, and cognitive flexibility.

Why It Matters:
• Develops rule-following abilities
• Enhances working memory
• Builds strategic thinking
• Supports impulse control
• Strengthens social understanding

From an OT perspective, rule-based games provide structured contexts for addressing multiple developmental areas simultaneously. We use them to target attention, sequencing, and social skills while maintaining high engagement.

Clever Play Ideas:
1. "Moving Memory Match" - Create a movement-based memory game combining cognitive and motor challenges.
2. "Simon Says Plus" - Add complexity to traditional games by incorporating multiple steps and sensory components.

Pro Tip: Watch how children handle game rules and challenges - it often reflects executive functioning development.

15/05/2025

🏆 We've Been Nominated for Best of Ballito 2025 🏆 We're absolutely thrilled to share that Ashley Dearling Occupational Therapists has been nominated for Best Occupational Therapists in the Best of Ballito 2025 awards! This recognition means the world to us and reflects our team's dedication to helping children reach their full potential.

If you've experienced the difference our therapy makes and feel we've made a positive impact in your child's life or the lives of others, we'd be honoured by your support!

How to Vote:
1️⃣ Visit the Best of Ballito Voting Page: https://www.bestofsouthafrica.co.za/ballito/bob-voting-category-medical/
2️⃣ Select "Ashley Dearling Occupational Therapists" in the "Best Occupational Therapist" category
3️⃣ Vote for at least FIVE businesses in each category to qualify for prizes
4️⃣ Submit your votes
⏰ Voting closes 14 June 2025

IMPORTANT: You can only vote ONCE per category and cannot return after submitting, so please select all your favourites before clicking Submit!

Your support has always been the backbone of our practice, and we're incredibly grateful for each family who has trusted us with their child's therapy journey. Every vote is a celebration of the progress we've achieved together!

Please share with friends and family who've experienced our care! 💕

15/05/2025

🎉 Happy Birthday to our Amazing Ashley! 🎂 Today, we celebrate the heart and soul of Ashley Dearling Occupational Therapists - our incredible practice owner, mentor, and friend!

Ashley, your passion for helping children thrive is truly inspiring. Your deep knowledge, unwavering patience, and genuine care create an environment where both children and therapists flourish. The warmth and understanding you bring to every session transforms challenges into opportunities and tears into smiles.

As our mentor, you've guided us with wisdom and encouragement, always pushing us to grow while providing the support we need. Your leadership has built not just a practice, but a family where each of us feels valued and empowered.

Thank you for creating a space where both children and therapists can reach their full potential. Your vision and heart have touched countless lives throughout Ballito and beyond.

Wishing you a birthday filled with all the joy and love you so generously give to others!

With deepest appreciation and admiration,
Your Ashley Dearling OT & Marketing Team 💗

11/05/2025

💐 Happy Mother's Day from Ashley Dearling Occupational Therapists 💖 To all the amazing mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures we're privileged to work with:

💗Your unwavering support during therapy sessions, consistent practice at home, and fierce advocacy for your children inspire us daily. We see your determination, patience, and unconditional love as you navigate each challenge and celebrate every victory, no matter how small.
💗The gentle way you encourage independence while providing just the right support...
💗The tears of joy you shed when milestones are reached...
💗The countless hours spent researching, learning, and implementing strategies...
💗These acts of love make all the difference in your child's journey.

Today, we celebrate YOU and your profound impact on your child's development and well-being. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your family's story.

Wishing all mothers a day filled with the love and appreciation you so richly deserve.

Ashley Dearling Occupational Therapists

11/07/2025

17/06/2025

15/06/2025

05/06/2025

29/05/2025

27/05/2025

23/05/2025

21/05/2025

19/05/2025

15/05/2025

15/05/2025

11/05/2025

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 17:00