Sensory Spot

18/04/2024

The greatest team!

15/04/2024

🥳🏆 HOT1027 has done it again!

We're up for 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 awards at this year's New York Radio Awards, which are seen as 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒐.

𝐇𝐎𝐓𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 is up for "Best Music & Personality show" and The 𝐇𝐎𝐓𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 is nominated for two accolades, our "Beginners Guide to online dating" series is up for "Best Human Interest Feature" along with our "Padkos & Playdough" project!

12/01/2024

You asked and we FINALLY listened!

Sensory Spot has opened a few more beautiful OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY rooms! This means that we are finally able to clear our waiting list and see more of our beautiful kiddies in our community!

You can find Leanne, Stef, Carissa and Anieke at the following locations:
1. *Broadacres* - Buckets & Books (that's right we've moved to a new location)
2. *Douglasdale* - Bright Beginnings School
3. *Chartwell* - Unity College
4. *Bryanston* - 36 Culross Road

https://sensoryspot.co.za/

Sensory Spot is a dynamic pediatric occupational therapy practice in the heart of Fourways, Johannesburg. We

27/10/2022

We just love our community so much! ❤️

Today we celebrate . We are so incredibly blessed to work with some of the most passionate and commited OT’s out there!
Caryn, Kate, Jen and Leanne we SO appreciate you!
Jennifer Maud Therapy Group and Sensory Spot

27/10/2022

And all the love back! ❤️

Today is

We are so grateful to work with some passionate and amazing OTs! 🌈

Sensory Spot
Tracy Angerson and Associates Occupational Therapy

25/06/2022

Prematurity and Sensory Integration: Why follow-up appointments are imperative.

A new systematic review of sensory processing in premature babies (22-36 weeks gestation) shows abnormal sensory modulation, somatosensory processing and sensory-based motor processing. The review included 8340 children in total.

Sensory Modulation (how we react to our sensory environment): In the premature population, up to 93% of the premature children experienced deficient tactile reactivity and 80% experienced deficient vestibular reactivity.

Somatosensory Processing (perception of touch, temperature, body position, proprioception and pain, important for coordination, fine motor, grading pressure etc): According to the TSFI, the prevalence of visual‐tactile integration difficulties in the preterm population was up to 33% of infants. While the SIPT prevalence for mild to severe dysfunction in somatosensory processing tests was up to 71%.

Sensory-based Motor Processing: up to 79% experienced difficulties in adaptive motor functions, 50% in ocular‐motor control and up to 70% in coordination.

The study found that children who were monitored post-admission to 6 years old, had the best outcome as difficulties were addressed early resulting in better performance.

We know from previous studies that addressing difficulties before the child's third birthday makes a significant difference in their overall development and progress.

The studies all showed that APGAR scores, birth weight, gestational age, hospital stay and the s*x of the child all contributed to their risk factors. Male infants were more at risk than female infants. ❤

06/05/2021

Someone asked me the other day, what is the secret to increasing their child's capabilities. Well, it's as simple as play. Children learn through play; they develop pre-academic skills through play, they learn to cope with emotions through play. And even better your child and you will deepen your relationship through play.

A guided step to playing with your child!

If play and spending time doesn’t come naturally to you, follow these simple steps:
1. Set aside 15 minutes every day (EVERY DAY) – make it a discipline.
2. Turn off your cell phone and put down your tablet – completely away
3. Go to a special space with a box of simple toys – a kit of 5 toys is enough – a few blocks, a car, a dolly, a book and a toy cup can be enough to invite a wonderful play session.
4. Sit on the floor with your little one and Watch, Wait and Wonder:
- Watch her and do nothing
- Wait for her to invite you to play with his chosen toy – he may look at you or touch you or hand you a toy
- Let her tell you how to play "Mommy you be the green turtle...","come here" etc. Don't direct. As adults, we often think our ideas are fabulous, and I am sure they are, but in order for your child's brain to develop and grow she will need to create her own ideas, even if it is a turtle eating a lion.
- Let her tell you how to play "Mommy you be the green turtle...","come here" etc. Don't direct. As adults, we often think our ideas are fabulous, and I am sure they are, but in order for your child's brain to develop and grow, she will need to create her own ideas, even if it is a turtle eating a lion.

20/04/2021

What is sensory overload?

I always start with the example of going shopping the week of Christmas. It is crazy. There are carols, people, smells, textures. On the way home from the shop, your hubby or child may ask you a simple question, such as “what is for dinner?” Even if you know the answer, it’s as if you can’t hear them. You would usually respond with “what, um, let me think”. This feeling is an overwhelmed sensory system! You are in sensory shutdown. You will often come home and need a snack, a lie down or a shower, depending on how you regulate yourself.
This is the daily life of a sensory sensitive child or toddler. The world of sensory input become too overwhelming for their bodies, and their nervous systems go into a fight/flight response. Auditory sensitive children may ignore their teachers verbal cues as they are overwhelmed from break, from their peers whispers or from a dog barking outside. Their body goes into shutdown and they cannot process what the teacher is saying. They will need regulatory sensory input to calm their nervous system so that they can focus on the task at hand again.

Similarly, a tactile (touch) sensitive child cannot concentrate on her work at hand with that darn label touching her skins.

Children with sensory overload often present as follows:
- Poor concentration
- Daydreamy
- Fidgety and struggle to remain still (this is their attempt to self-regulate)
- Anxious
- Stubborn or uncooperative

13/10/2020

In order to make the perfect crazy clay birds nest, one must get very creative! This is an amazing fine motor strength exercise, Crazy Clay is thicker than playdough and therefore creates more resistance. And there is so much intrinsic motivation as you can keep the product ❤️👌

08/10/2020

Part 2/2: Toddlers and Tantrums

Step One: Go Below the Surface
Identify the emotion or intent behind the behaviour: behaviour may be due to sensory overload, tiredness or biological processes (eg. hunger)

Step Two: Picking Your Battles vs. Health+Safety
As mentioned in the previous post your toddler is developing their own personality and autonomy, so let them have control when they can. Provided it is not immoral/unsafe/unhealthy (swimming in the cold/ watching excessive TV/ eating sweets), harm others (biting) or harm property (drawing on furniture). Pick your battles because you are fighting every ‘cause’, you will fatigue and start to be inconsistent. And (NB) toddlers need consistency.

Step Three: ABC
A. Acknowledge – “I know you want the red dinosaur” /, “I think you are hungry”. These statements help your little one to feel acknowledged and understood
B. Boundary – “But we do not bite our friends” / “We cannot have a sweet before dinner”
C. Choice – “You can wait your turn” / “You can have an apple”.

There may still be a place for time-outs and tantrums do need a different approach altogether but starting with these three points, you will start to win your toddler over.

Step Four: Try Avoid Tantrums
There may still be a place for time-outs and tantrums do need a different approach altogether but starting with these three points, you will start to win your toddler over. exactly what they want and if they cannot express themselves or are misunderstood they will become very irritable and likely to erupt.
2. Sleep – Toddlers need a lot of sleep. Most toddlers need a day nap until they are 3 years old or older. If not they usually need to be in bed by 6pm.
3. Predictable day routine – Toddlers thrive on predictable routines, and debate events less when they are predictable and routined.
4. Picking battles
5. Sensory Time Out – Toddlers are susceptible to sensory meltdown. Monitor social situation (duration and social gathering size)– keep playdates and parties short ensuring your toddler is well rested before. Toddlers can only really manage one hour per day of socialising per year of their life before becoming overstimulated.

06/10/2020

Toddlers and Tantrums (Part 1).

Your gorgeous baby has become a toddler (ages 1–3 years) and with this new milestone is behaviour you have no idea what to do about. 😅 This is one of the most common challenges of early parenting. Whether it is a tantrum in Woolworths, biting, refusing to go to bed or simply getting in and out of the car, almost every parent has experienced this, so let's take a look at what is happening?

Erik Erikson was a stage theorist who theorised an eight-stage psychosocial theory of development. During each of Erikson’s stages, two conflicting ideas must be resolved successfully in order for a person to become confident and functional.

From birth to 12 months of age, babies learn that adults can be trusted. Babies are dependent upon mom/dad/granny etc. who are responsive, sensitive to their needs and help their baby to develop a sense of trust; thus, their baby will see the world as a safe, predictable place.

Toddlers are past this stage of development and have entered Erikson’s second of development: Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt. As toddlers begin to explore their world, they learn that they are a unique person with independent ideas, that they can control their actions and act on their environment to get results. They begin to show clear preferences in things such as food, toys and clothing. A toddler’s main task is to resolve the issue of autonomy vs. shame and doubt by working to establish independence. Your task as parents is to encourage the development of autonomy whilst keeping your precious child safe. This is the “me do it” stage. You will see a sense of autonomy in a toddler who wants to choose their clothes and dress themself. Although their outfits might not be appropriate for the situation, their input in such basic decisions has an effect on their sense of independence. If denied the opportunity, they may begin to doubt their abilities, which could lead to low self-esteem and feelings of shame. Punitive and harsh parenting in the toddler years may result in your little one doubting themself while allowing complete autonomy will also leave them feeling insecure. So how do you manage behaviour to get the balance right?

14/09/2020

Look at us!✨🌿🙌
A huge thank you to Matter at Hart for the absolutely gorgeous billboard. I can't believe how quick and professional the whole process was!