Leandri Wolmarans Speech Therapy

Leandri Wolmarans Speech Therapy Speech Therapy

17/01/2026

This morning, just before dawn, my toddler padded into my room.
My heart sank — it was Saturday. She was meant to sleep in.

I ignored her for a moment, until I heard soft murmuring.
Not mischief.
Not chaos.
But calm.

She was talking to our eldest dog.

Curious, I opened my eyes to look — and there she was.
Sitting quietly beside Cody, a pile of books at her feet.
Reading to him.

Two years old. One week in.

My heart soared.
In that quiet moment, I felt deeply grateful — grateful that we chose books, that we chose stories, that we chose to read WITH her and TO her, over and over again.

The effort is small.
The impact is lifelong.

Here are a few reasons why reading to your toddler matters 📚✨!

*** Reading to toddlers has powerful, long-lasting benefits for their brain development, emotional security, and future learning. ***

🧠 Language & Brain Development
- Builds vocabulary far faster than everyday conversation alone
- Helps toddlers understand sentence structure and grammar
- Strengthens brain pathways linked to communication and thinking

📖 Early Literacy Skills
- Teaches how books work (pages, pictures, words)
- Develops listening skills and attention span
- Lays the foundation for reading and writing later at school

❤️ Emotional Security & Bonding
- Creates a safe, calming routine
- Strengthens the emotional bond between child and caregiver
- Helps toddlers associate learning with comfort and love

🗣️ Social & Emotional Understanding
- Stories help toddlers recognise emotions (happy, sad, angry, scared)
- Encourages empathy by seeing situations from others’ perspectives
- Supports emotional regulation and understanding behaviour

🎨 Imagination & Thinking
- Sparks creativity and imagination
- Improves memory and problem-solving skills
- Encourages curiosity about the world

🕰️ Behaviour & Routine Benefits
- Improves focus and patience over time
- Helps with bedtime routines and winding down
- Reduces screen dependence when used regularly

🌍 Cultural & Real-World Learning
- Introduces numbers, colours, animals, routines, and cultures
- Helps toddlers make sense of everyday experiences

If you need help, guidance or even just a touch base session, feel free to contact me!
I am always available to assist where, and when needed!

Blessings in abundance for 2026! 🙌🫶

27/05/2025

As I got my 16 month old ready for her bath tonight, she found a babydoll in the room. She came to show me her baby, wrapped in a little blanket.
At first I did not pay much attention to this, since I was determined to get her bathed before it got to cold. I realized after a while that she was unusually quiet, so I turned around to see what she was up to, and I as shocked!

There she was, preforming our nightly bedtime routine, with the exact actions that I use on her!
She lays on her tummy and I cover her with a blanket (*disclaimer-I do not cover her head😅)
I then make myself comfortable next to her, put my arm around her body and pat-pat-pat untill I hear her breath steadily slow down into a deep sleep.

And there she was. At 16 months, replicating our routine, without any prompting or reminders from my side.

I preach to my therapy parents: "Routine, follow a routine. Talk through your actions. Repeat it everyday!"
And here, without even realizing it, my own little one, who is lazy to talk, is starting to demonstrate the benefits of a routine!

I now wonder, how many other actions of daily living are we missing, while we rush to get her in and out of the bath, dinner in her tummy and a storybook before bed.

My mommy-therapist moment for this week is to be present. Be aware of what she is doing and continue using our routine. Maybe even introduce another one or two 😋😉

04/03/2025

*** BOOKREADING***

I have been married to this man for 3 years, and before that we were dating for 4 years.
He's been listening to my stories about therapy and bookreading for at least 7-8 years.

Tonight, without him realizing, he was "reading" a picture book with our little one, in exactly the manner that I would have taught a client to do.

This was a heartwarming moment, not only for my mommy-heart, but also my therapist-heart.

The benefits of early bookreading in your child's speech- and language development cannot be emphasized enough! Just do it! They love it! And you will too!

***Video is of very bad quality, but I did not want to interrupt this moment with a flash or a change in position***

2025 started of with a bang and I am só blessed!I have very limited spaces available, but get in contact with me! I woul...
17/02/2025

2025 started of with a bang and I am só blessed!

I have very limited spaces available, but get in contact with me! I would love to make a plan to see you!

This year finds me at a number of Private- as well as Government Schools.

Like always, get in touch, you have nothing to lose.

This year I am celebrating my 5th year in the private sector. What a journey it's been!What better way to tackle the nex...
17/02/2025

This year I am celebrating my 5th year in the private sector.
What a journey it's been!

What better way to tackle the next 5 years than with brand new branding!

Exciting things to follow, watch this space.

You might be frustrated that your preschool or primary school child’s teacher suggests your child see an Occupational-, ...
13/06/2022

You might be frustrated that your preschool or primary school child’s teacher suggests your child see an Occupational-, Speech, or play therapist.

People might think that children are too often recognized with “problems” these days and “we survived without these things in the good old days.”

Remember, your child’s teacher often sees them much longer in the day than you do. They might pick up things they can see that might be a problem in the future. They often have years of experience or are even fresh from the books where they have studied child development. Believe them, and work with them rather than being defensive. They only want to help your child.

Sure, children need more help than in the past. Times have changed, parenting has changed, and the world’s expectations have changed. Work with these professionals to give your child the best chance.

By intervening early, you will be preventing issues later on in schooling. We have way more intervention options that have been proven successful than in the past.

Description credit: Bloem Doc Mom
Pic credit: Mrs Speechie P

INTRODUCING ME...Recently I've come to realise that many of the people following my page, have no idea who I am...
17/05/2022

INTRODUCING ME...

Recently I've come to realise that many of the people following my page, have no idea who I am. So today I am doing a formal introduction 😊

-> My name is Leandri. I am 25 years old,
and the owner and therapist of Leandri
Wolmarans Speech Therapy.
-> I graduated from the University of
Pretoria in 2018. Completed my
Community Service year at Themba
Hospital, in Kabokweni, and opened the
practice in 2020.
-> My focus is mainly on children between
the ages of 3 and 13, although I am
capable of working with all ages that
might require assistance.
-> I am passionate about Early
Communication Intervention, as well as
Articulation, Language and Auditory
Processing therapy.
-> I have two offices where I see my clients.
One in Malelane and one in Nelspruit.
Currently I am in Malelane every Monday
to Thursday, from 08:00 - 14:30.
You can find me in Nelspruit on Fridays
and every afternoon from 15:30 - 17:00

-> I recently got married to my high school
crush, and best friend, Michael. 🤭👩‍❤️‍👨
We have 2 dogs, named Cody and Pippa,
and just got 3 fish, which we have no
experience on. Let's hope they can stay
alive.
-> In our free time we like to explore new
places. We enjoy 4x4 trips and good
food. Camping, braai-ing with friends and
visits to the farm takes up most of our
weekends and holidays.

That is all the time I have available now. But soon I will post another "INTRODUCTION"

Should you feel that you want to contact me, feel free to do so. I love a good Wimpy coffee with a future client 😉

We will be opening very soon!
04/01/2022

We will be opening very soon!

Address

1 Neethling Street
Mbombela
1200

Opening Hours

Monday 07:30 - 17:30
Tuesday 07:30 - 17:30
Wednesday 07:30 - 17:30
Thursday 07:30 - 17:30
Friday 07:30 - 15:30
Saturday 09:00 - 12:00

Telephone

+27722914618

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Leandri Wolmarans Speech Therapy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Leandri Wolmarans Speech Therapy:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category