What are the opening hours?

Monday 07:00 - 16:00 Tuesday 07:00 - 16:00 Wednesday 07:00 - 16:00 Thursday 07:00 - 16:00 Friday 07:00 - 16:00

Lauren Hepworth Occupational Therapy

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South Africa
Westville
Lauren Hepworth Occupational Therapy

Special interest in child conditions such as learning & developmental delays, autism & mental health I assess & treat from age:3 months to 13 years

I have a special interest in conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, developmental and learning delays.

18/07/2025

This is a reminder that your activities at home don’t need to look “pretty” - use what you have (in my case old documents, a range of balls and washi tape). This still equals time to have a hot coffee 😉

16/07/2025

Why Sensory & Messy Play Is So Much More Than Just “Making a Mess”! 🌈🧠

Sensory and messy play isn’t just fun (though it definitely is)—it’s also powerful for your child’s development! Whether it’s squishing playdough, finger painting, splashing in water, or digging through rice bins, these hands-on experiences are full of learning and growth.

Here’s why sensory play is so valuable:

✨ Brain Development: Engaging the senses helps build nerve connections in the brain’s pathways, supporting cognitive growth, problem-solving, and creativity.

🖐️ Fine & Gross Motor Skills: Pouring, pinching, squishing, and scooping all build coordination and muscle strength in small and large movements.

💬 Language Skills: Describing textures, smells, and sensations encourages rich language use (“sticky,” “squishy,” “cold,” “smooth”)—great for vocabulary building!

😌 Emotional Regulation: Sensory activities can be calming and help children self-soothe, especially if they’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious.

🧩 Exploration & Curiosity: Kids learn by doing. Messy play lets them explore cause and effect, make predictions, and test their ideas—mini scientists at work!

💡 Imagination & Creativity: No rules, no “right way”—just freedom to create, invent, and express themselves.

⸻

Yes, it might mean extra laundry or a messy floor—but the benefits are so worth it. 💛 So next time your little one is elbow-deep in slime or finger painting the windows, remember: they’re not just making a mess—they’re making connections. 🌟

10/07/2025

Pegs aren’t just for hanging laundry—they’re tiny tools that pack a big developmental punch! Whether they’re using peg boards, clothes pegs, or stacking pegs, here’s why your child should play with them:

💪 Fine motor skills
💪 Hand eye coordination
💪 Attention and concentration
💪 Creativity and imagination

Ideas for using pegs:
🎨 Color Sorting with Pegs
Provide colored pegs and matching bowls or paper circles. Ask your child to match pegs to their color.

🔢 Number Match Pegs
Write numbers on a card and dots on pegs—or vice versa. Kids clip the correct peg to the card (e.g., 4 dots = number 4).

🅰️ Alphabet Peg Match
Write uppercase letters on pegs and lowercase on a strip of cardboard. Kids clip the matching peg to the letter.

🌈 Peg Rainbow
Create a rainbow on cardboard. Let your child clip colored pegs onto the matching arc.

🧦 Laundry Line Game
String up a pretend “clothesline.” Provide doll clothes or socks for your child to hang using pegs—great role play + coordination!

03/07/2025

Looking for a simple, fun, and surprisingly effective way to keep your kids entertained and learning? Grab a spray bottle! 🙌

Here’s why it’s a game-changer:

✅ Fine Motor Skills – Spraying builds finger strength and coordination.
✅ Sensory Play – Kids love the feel and sound of the mist!
✅ Creative Fun – Use it for water painting, cleaning games, or plant care.
✅ Independence – Gives little ones a “grown-up” job they can do proudly.
✅ Cooling Down – Perfect for hot days—just add water and play outside!

Whether you’re indoors or out, a spray bottle turns everyday moments into playtime with purpose. 🎨🧽🌿

Who knew something so simple could bring so much joy?

30/06/2025

Make use of those Checkers60 bags and create a huge space for creativity and exploration. Painting with pegs and pom-poms (where a pom-pom is clipped or held with a peg and then used as a painting tool) offers several developmental and creative benefits, especially for young children or those in early learning settings. Here are the key benefits:

🧠 1. Fine Motor Skill Development
Pinching and holding the peg improves grip strength and dexterity.

Dabbing or stamping with the pom-pom builds control and coordination in the small muscles of the hands and fingers — important for writing and self-care tasks.

🎨 2. Creativity and Expression
This method allows for free exploration of color and texture.
Children can experiment with different patterns, pressure, and techniques, leading to unique, abstract creations.

👁️ 3. Hand-Eye Coordination
Aligning the pom-pom to the page and aiming it where they want to place paint helps develop spatial awareness and precision.

✋ 4. Sensory Experience
The soft texture of the pom-pom combined with the tactile sensation of paint creates a multi-sensory experience, which is calming and engaging.

🧠 5. Cognitive and Planning Skills
Deciding where to place colors, how to layer them, and what shapes to make encourages decision-making and planning.
Useful for reinforcing colors, patterns, and sequencing.

😄 6. Low-Mess Alternative
Compared to finger painting or brush painting, this method keeps hands cleaner and is easier to manage, especially in group settings.

👫 7. Inclusive and Adaptable
Can be easily adapted for children with limited fine motor abilities by adjusting peg size or using larger pom-poms.
Allows everyone to participate in art-making regardless of ability.

24/06/2025

Is your child struggling with focus, handwriting, or keeping up with classroom tasks? You’re not alone — and that’s where Occupational Therapy can help!

Here’s how OT can make a difference in the classroom:
🧠 Builds attention and self-regulation skills
🖐️ Improves fine motor control for writing and cutting
🪑 Supports posture and core strength for seated tasks
📅 Helps with organisation and following routines
👀 Can assist in developing visual perceptual skills
💬 Develops social and communication skills for group work

At LH Occupational Therapy, we tailor strategies to your child’s unique needs — helping them feel confident, capable, and ready to learn. 🌟

📞 Reach out to learn how we can support your child’s learning journey!

09/05/2025

Lauren Hepworth OT is made up of myself, Lauren Harvey and Fathima Randeree.

Our motto is “Everyone has pOTential” and we strive to make our little ones function to their best ability!

We couldn’t do what we do without the amazing support of the parents, teachers (Atholl Heights Primary School, Kainon School and educare and other health professionals

We’re Honoured to Be Nominated!

We are incredibly humbled to be voted for Best OT in the Best of Durban awards!

If you believe we’ve earned this recognition, we would truly appreciate your vote.

Vote here:
https://www.bestofsouthafrica.co.za/durban/bod-voting-category-medical/
(Scroll down to the Best OT category)

Thank you for your continued support—we are committed to giving our best in every interaction.

06/05/2025

We’re Honoured to Be Nominated!

We are incredibly humbled to be voted for Best OT in the Best of Durban awards!

If you believe we’ve earned this recognition, we would truly appreciate your vote.

Vote here:
https://www.bestofsouthafrica.co.za/durban/bod-voting-category-medical/
(Scroll down to the Best OT category)

Thank you for your continued support—we are committed to giving our best in every interaction.

14/02/2025

When teachers and the therapist start dressing the same…

Nurturing good team relationships with both parents and teachers is an integral part of our practice. When we are on the same page, working together to create the best approach for a child, becomes a breeze!

Sending love to all our parents, kiddies, teachers and other important team members on this Valentines Day! ❤️

08/01/2025

Hello 2025!

We are slowly getting back into the administrative side of the practise and will be back full swing next Monday!

My word for the year is Flourish and part of that is looking at how best to serve you and your children while helping your family to also thrive!

Let me know what you would like to see more of or what topics would be of interest to you!

Happy new year!

Lots of love
Lauren and Fathima x

21/11/2024

Anyone else feeling that end of year fatigue? Coffee for the win 🤣

Coffee may not be for you, and I don’t agree with litres of it, but find something that feels like a treat and keeps you going!

Almost there!

21/08/2024

Last week we started to chat about why effective communication is important.
We detailed:
1. Holistic understanding
2. Consistency in support
3. Personalised Interventions
4. Early identification and intervention

The second part looks at the following:

5. **Empowerment of the Child**: Involving children in discussions about their therapy progress and goals fosters a sense of ownership and motivation. It empowers them to actively participate in therapy sessions, express their preferences, and work towards achieving personal milestones.

6. **Support Network**: Building strong communication channels creates a supportive network around the child. It encourages open dialogue, shared resources, and mutual encouragement among team members. This collaborative approach not only benefits the child’s therapy journey but also strengthens relationships among parents, teachers, therapists, and the child.

7. **Comprehensive Developmental Growth**: Ultimately, effective team communication in OT promotes the child’s comprehensive developmental growth. It addresses their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs across different contexts, laying a solid foundation for their future success and well-being.

In conclusion, communication among parents, teachers, therapists, and children is not just beneficial—it’s essential for optimizing occupational therapy outcomes. By working together as a cohesive team, everyone involved can contribute to creating a supportive environment where the child can thrive and reach their full potential.

Address

Westville

Opening Hours

Monday	07:00 - 16:00
Tuesday	07:00 - 16:00
Wednesday	07:00 - 16:00
Thursday	07:00 - 16:00
Friday	07:00 - 16:00

Telephone

+27832879262

Website

http://laurenhepworth-ot.co.za/

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