Velda Frankim Occupational therapist

17/04/2026

16/04/2026

Here's why handwriting fails without proper core strength and hand strength...https://ilslearningcorner.com/why-handwriting-fails-without-core-strength-hand-strength/

15/04/2026

Every “NO” your child says…
is not attitude.
It’s identity forming.

This is the age where they learn:
Do I have a voice?
Am I heard?
Do I matter?

If every “no” is shut down,
they don’t become obedient…
they become silent.

But when handled right,
“NO” turns into confidence,
decision-making,
and self-trust.

Next time they say “no”…
don’t react.
Respond.

Because your reaction today
becomes their inner voice tomorrow.

Comment “NO” and I’ll send you
simple scripts to handle it calmly.

parentingcoach

13/04/2026

09/04/2026

If discipline in your home feels like a constant battle, you’re not alone—and you’re not getting it wrong.

Many of us were taught that discipline means punishment, control, or quick compliance. But real discipline isn’t about shutting behaviour down… it’s about building skills up.

It’s about teaching, guiding, and supporting a child to do better next time—not making them feel worse this time.

When we shift from control to connection, everything changes. Children don’t just behave differently… they develop differently.

This visual breaks down what discipline truly is—and what it isn’t—so you can respond with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

02/04/2026

HAPPY OT MONTH! 🤍🌈

Are you even an OT practitioner if you haven’t heard “oh yeah, like PT” or been confused with them 🙃

PT focuses on improving the clients ability to move whereas OT focuses on the ability to perform occupations of one’s life for daily living is my elevator pitch!

Both help individuals to gain ability to function & work together for a comprehensive rehabilitation 🫶🏻

01/04/2026

A great graphic of the Neurodiversity Strengths Umbrella! ☂️ What else should be added to this wheel?

Source credit: The National ADHD and Neurodiversity Charity.

30/03/2026

That thing!! Thingamabob and for the afrikaans kids- “dingeses & sulkes”

27/03/2026

Have a restful school holiday and easter weekend. We will be out of office until the 6th of April! 🌿

To discipline means to teach. Who were the teachers from whom we wanted to learn? 💛 P.S. Last day to register for the parent (and professional) coaching group that starts next week. We have a beautiful small community where all belong without judgment.

26/03/2026

Some children are constantly told to “listen properly” - but they are already trying as hard as they can.

Imagine hearing every word, but your brain cannot quite make sense of them. Instructions blur together. Background noise feels overwhelming. By the time you work out what was said, everyone else has already moved on.

This is what life can feel like for a child with Auditory Processing Disorder.

They may look distracted, forgetful, or oppositional. In reality, they are confused, overloaded, and often blamed for something they cannot control.

Over time, this can affect confidence, behaviour, learning, and relationships.

When adults understand what is really happening, everything changes. Small adjustments in how we speak, teach, and support can make a huge difference.

LIKE the photo and comment "APD" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.

Free AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER (APD) IN CHILDREN – SIGNS, SUPPORT STRATEGIES AND CLASSROOM HELP

25/03/2026

Oculomotor Activities That Also Boost Executive Functioning
1. I Spy or Hidden Picture Puzzles
🔍 Supports: Visual scanning + attention + task completion- Kids must search systematically, stay focused, and remember what they’ve already found.

2. Mazes and Dot-to-Dot Pages
🧠 Supports: Planning, visual tracking, and inhibition- Encourages planning the best path, controlling impulses, and following steps.

3. Tracking with a Pointer or Finger
📖 Supports: Visual tracking + sustained attention- Use for reading or copying. This helps with staying focused and organized across lines.

4. Ball Toss or Balloon Volleyball
🎈 Supports: Visual tracking + self-regulation- Requires anticipation, inhibition (wait, aim), and eye-hand coordination.

5. Flashlight Tag or Laser Pointer Chase
🔦 Supports: Saccades + flexibility + working memory- The child follows a light quickly while adjusting to changes and remembering previous paths.

6. Target Games (like beanbags, Velcro darts)
🎯 Supports: Focused attention, inhibition, and decision-making- Helps with aiming, waiting turns, and adjusting based on results.

7. Tracing with Eyes Only
👀 Supports: Oculomotor control + mental focus- Have the child “trace” shapes or patterns with their eyes (no hands) then reproduce them.

Here is more information: https://www.theottoolbox.com/activities-to-improve-oculomotor/

Oculomotor control (how the eyes move, like tracking, scanning, and shifting focus) is tightly linked to executive functioning because both rely on frontal lobe activity in the brain. When kids engage in tasks that require coordinated eye movements, they’re also practicing:
🟢Sustained Attention- Looking at and following a moving object requires mental focus, just like sticking with a task.
🟢Inhibition (Impulse Control)- To track something accurately (like a moving ball or line in a maze), kids must slow down, resist distractions, and follow through, mirroring impulse control skills.
🟢Working Memory- Games like “I Spy” or flashlight tag require kids to remember what they’ve seen, hold it in mind, and act on that info, key to following directions and solving problems.
🟢Cognitive Flexibility- Oculomotor activities that involve shifting focus (e.g., scanning for different items) help kids practice adjusting their thinking and attention, a core executive function skill.
🟢Planning & Organization- Many visual-motor tasks (like mazes or dot-to-dots) require kids to mentally plan their next move and execute a sequence, skills used in homework, chores, and goal setting.

So while they seem like “just visual games,” oculomotor activities are actually training the brain to focus, process, and act thoughtfully, the foundation of executive functioning.

Here is more informaiton: https://www.theottoolbox.com/activities-to-improve-oculomotor/