Elmari Hoffman-Van Rooyen Privaat Praktyk

08/03/2026

It's okay to feel all the feels !!!

18/02/2026

29/01/2026

Yes, yes and 100x's yesss !!!

Regulation isn’t something children learn on their own.

It’s something their nervous system borrows from ours first.

When a child is overwhelmed, their brain isn’t ready for lessons, logic, or consequences.

It’s looking for safety.
That safety is built through repeated experiences of:
• being met, not managed
• being soothed, not shamed
• having someone stay close until the storm passes

Over time, those moments become internal skills.
What starts as co-regulation becomes self-regulation.

If your child still needs you in their big moments, it doesn’t mean you’re doing too much.

It means their brain is still learning.

Save this for the hard days.

And if you want to understand the why behind this more deeply, my book Guidance from The Therapist Parent explores the nervous system side of behaviour — link in bio.

23/01/2026

23/01/2026

Lees gerus !!!

15/01/2026

Your Child's Meltdown Isn't Misbehavior—It's a Cry for Help
Ever wonder why your sweet child suddenly turns into a screaming, kicking mess over something small? Here's what's really happening inside their little body.
When kids melt down, their brain's alarm system has been triggered. Think of it like a smoke detector going off—their nervous system is literally screaming, "This is way too much for me right now!"
Here's the truth most parents don't realize: children's brains are still under construction. The part that helps them calm down, think clearly, and manage big emotions? It won't be fully developed until their mid-20s!
So when we yell, punish, or send them to timeout during a meltdown, we're basically yelling at the fire alarm instead of putting out the actual fire. It doesn't teach them anything except that their feelings are wrong.
What actually works?
The secret is called co-regulation. You stay calm (even when it's hard), take slow breaths, and just be there with them. Your peaceful presence literally teaches their brain what "safe" feels like.
Every time you help them through a meltdown with patience, you're not just ending that moment—you're rewiring their brain. You're building their ability to handle stress for life.
Your calm becomes their calm. And eventually, they learn to carry that calm inside themselves.
Reference: Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, "The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind"

06/11/2025

Dankie Solidariteit (Maatskaplike Werk Netwerk) vir die ongelooflike groot bederf. Julle maak 'n verskil in die lewens van ons kinders - ons toekoms !!!

10/10/2025

Do you know how to assist your child in "clearing the roads" ?

07/10/2025

Hierdie is só waar. Let gerus maar op.

11/03/2025

23/02/2025

08/01/2025

Let this sink in !!!