Sensoryscape Paeds OT

15/07/2025

✏️Why work on a vertical surface?✏️

Activities done on a wall, easel or window aren’t just fun — they are used to build shoulder stability, upper body strength, posture, bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination, wrist extension, fine motor control and and even pencil grasp!💪🖍️

There are abundant benefits of moving activities from a convenient horizontal surface to a vertical surface. Activities could including writing, drawing, painting, puzzles, using a whiteboard or chalkboard, word searches, exploring shaving cream, etc!

These activities can be done in standing, kneeling or even sitting on a ball! 🔴

13/07/2025

✨What is Open-ended play?✨

Open-ended play is a type of play that encourages creativity and imagination by allowing children to explore and interact with materials without specific rules, instructions, or predetermined outcomes.

🌈 It fosters the child’s ability to be creative and use their imagination (being bored is a learnt skill🤩)
🌈 It boosts problem solving abilities and critical thinking skills
🌈 It’s child-led and develops independence, confidence, social and emotional skills
🌈 It focuses on the process and not the outcome or end product
🌈 Fosters sensory exploration and motor skill development

In a world of structured activities and plenty screen time, open-ended play gives children the freedom to explore and learn in their own way ✨

Ideas of open-ended play:
🎈Imaginative play or role-play (dress up, pretend cooking, dolls, cars, building forts, play shopping, etc)
🎈Sensory or messy play
🎈Arts and crafts exploration without a predetermined end product
🎈Building blocks or constructive toys (blocks, Lego, magnetic tiles, suction fun, etc)

25/06/2025

Push, press, and strengthen! 🖐️✨ Using push pins on a foam board against a vertical surface is a fun way to build fine motor strength, improve shoulder stability, eye-hand coordination and posture and develop those proprioceptive senses! 👋

25/06/2025

Push, press, and strengthen! 🖐️✨ Using push pins on a foam board against a vertical surface is a fun way to build fine motor strength, improve shoulder stability and posture and develop those proprioceptive senses! 👋

23/06/2025

Our team of occupational therapists had a fantastic time attending ExpoSense over the weekend hosted by the South African Institute of Sensory Integration. A fun and informative morning filled with learning about all things sensory and keeping up to date with new therapy resources and ideas 🌈✨

16/06/2025

✨ Happy Youth Day! ✨

Today we honour the courage, resilience, and bright futures of the young people of South Africa 🇿🇦

Here’s to creating safe, inclusive spaces where little hands can build big dreams and every child’s voice matters. 🌈💪

15/06/2025

Happy Father’s Day!👔

Today, we celebrate all the amazing dads, grandpas, uncles, and father figures who hold little hands, cheer on every tiny triumph and turn everyday moments into adventures!

Wishing you a wonderful Father’s Day filled with laughter, hugs, and special memories!

Love the Sensoryscape team💙

13/06/2025

❄️Winter Messy Play Ideas for Little Hands!☃️

As the days get colder, it’s the perfect time to bring some sensory fun indoors! Messy play is a brilliant way to support your child’s fine motor skills, sensory development and encourage creativity and open ended play✨

Here are a few winter-themed ideas to try at home this weekend:

☃️ Snow Dough — Mix cornflour and conditioner for a soft, moldable “snow.” Add glitter for extra sparkle!

🧊 Frozen Treasure Hunt — Freeze small toys or objects in ice cubes. Let your little ones use spray bottles filled with some warm water and fine motor tools to rescue them!

☁️ Shaving Foam Snow Storm — Add white shaving foam to a tray with a sprinkle of silver glitter. Use hands, cars, or animal figurines to explore!

🌨️ Arctic Animal Sensory Bin — Use cotton wool, rice, and blue-dyed water beads to create a sensory world with some animals or toy boats, etc.

Tip: Always supervise, lay down a plastic tablecloth or mat, wear old clothes and have towels ready!🖐️

11/06/2025

09/06/2025

What is W-Sitting?
You might have seen your little one sitting on the floor with their knees bent, feet at either side and their bottom between their legs — forming a “W” shape. This is called W-sitting.

As OT’s we are always promoting floor time play and this may be a common position for young children, but it’s important to be aware of how frequent or prolonged W-sitting can affect their developing bodies.

Why children may choose this position:
🧸 This position creates a wide base of support, requiring very little activation of the trunk and postural muscles. This position can be a sign of weakness in these muscles, which could impact on the development of gross and fine motor skills.

Why Is W-Sitting a Concern? 🤔
🧩 It can place extra stress on hips, knees, and ankles and can have an impact on the development of these joints.
🧩 The position tends to limit the ability to rotate your trunk, which can impact balance and bilateral coordination.
🧩 W-sitting is a static position, rather than a dynamic one, and so children aren’t able to fully engage with their environment in this position.
🧩 Limits core strength development.

Encouraging Alternative Positions: ✅
Gently encouraging your child to change position can help in breaking the habit of w-sitting and help your child build stronger postural muscles and motor skills by offering these sitting alternatives: (slide to see)
🌸 Criss-cross
🌸 Long sitting (legs straight in front)
🌸 Side sitting
🌸 High sitting on a small bench or chair
🌸 Kneeling

When to Seek Support:
If your child consistently prefers W-sitting, shows signs of a weaker core or struggles with the other positions, it might be a good idea to check in with an occupational therapist for guidance.

23/05/2025

Working those fine motor skills one pom pom at a time! ✨ Tweezers and various fine motor tools help strengthen little hands, build hand-eye coordination, and prep those hands for writing, doing buttons, zips and shoelaces, using scissors and feeding themselves! ✏️🖐️✂️🍝🥢

20/05/2025

At our practice, we often get asked — what exactly is occupational therapy for children?🤷‍♀️

In simple terms: Paediatric occupational therapy helps children do the things they need and want to do in their daily lives 💖

From processing sensory input, mastering how to hold a pencil 🖍️, getting dressed and eating👕🍓, moving their bodies in their environment, school based skills, etc — our OTs work through fun, play-based activities to help children build confidence, skills, and independence!🪴

Every child’s job is to play, learn, and grow — and we’re here to support them 🌈

Want to know more? Send us a message/email or visit our website www.sensoryscape.co.za 💌