Kirsty Fleischer OT

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At Kirstin Fleischer OT we do Occupational Therapy well by helping children be all they can be!

04/09/2025

✨ This Month We're Celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference ✨

Since its beginnings in the 1940s, Occupational Therapy has touched countless lives, helping children grow, adults recover, and communities thrive.

At Kirsty Fleischer OT, we are proud to be part of this incredible legacy.

💛 Every milestone, every smile, every “I can do it!” moment is worth celebrating.

Let’s honour the past, embrace the present, and look forward to the future of helping children shine! 🌟

www.otherapy.co.za

25/08/2025

😤➡️😊 Big feelings can be overwhelming, for kids and parents alike.

OT helps children develop emotional regulation skills through body awareness, sensory strategies, and practical tools for calming and coping.

Whether your child is prone to meltdowns, struggles with transitions, or has difficulty identifying how they feel, OT can help them:

✨ Understand their emotions
🧠 Recognise body cues (like a racing heart or clenched fists)
🧘‍♂️ Use calming tools and movement breaks
💬 Express their needs more effectively

We work at your child’s pace, building emotional resilience and self-awareness in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.

OT gives kids the confidence to handle life’s ups and downs, and the skills to self-regulate over time. 💪

www.otherapy.co.za

19/08/2025

⚡️ “He just can’t sit still!”

🎯 “She blurts out answers and interrupts constantly.”

If this sounds familiar, your child may be experiencing impulsivity, a common challenge for kids with ADHD.

OT is a strong support for primary school-aged children that helps them to develop the self-regulation, focus, and motor planning skills they need to succeed in everyday life.

Here’s how OT can help:

🔹 Build body awareness and sensory regulation to reduce fidgeting
🔹 Practice impulse control through structured play and movement
🔹 Improve planning and sequencing for better transitions and routines
🔹 Collaborate with parents and teachers for consistent support across environments

Impulsivity isn’t bad behaviour, it’s often a signal of underlying sensory and regulation challenges. OT offers kids the tools to slow down, think before acting, and feel more in control of their world 🌍.

13/08/2025

🖐️ Happy International Left Handers Day! ✨

Today we celebrate the creativity, adaptability, and uniqueness of left-handed children!

Around 10% of the population is left-handed, as you know but most tools, activities, and learning environments are designed for right-handed people, which can make everyday tasks unexpectedly tricky.

Here are just a few challenges our lefties often face:

📏 Drawing a straight line with a ruler
✏️ Sharpening a pencil without smudging their work
🚪 Opening doors designed for right-handed grip

We understand how these seemingly small hurdles can affect confidence and performance at school. That’s why we tailor our approach to support motor skills, tool use, and bilateral coordination, especially for left-handed learners.

✂️ Did you know? Left-handed scissors aren’t just flipped versions, they’re engineered with reversed blades to ensure a clean cut and proper hand positioning.

And there’s a difference between bi-handedness (doing different tasks with different hands) and true ambidexterity (equal skill in both hands), which is rare!

💡 Explore more great tips and tools here: https://lefthandlearning.co.za/

Let’s empower left-handed kids with the strategies, and scissors, they need to thrive! 💙

05/08/2025

🌟 What is Paediatric OT, and how can it help my child?

This is such a great question!

Paediatric Occupational Therapy is all about helping children thrive in their daily lives, from home to school to the playground.

Whether it’s building motor skills, improving sensory regulation, or increasing independence in everyday tasks, OT focuses on the whole child.

🧩 Every child is unique, and so is their therapy journey.

At Kirsty Fleischer OT, we work closely with families in a warm, sensory-integrated environment to make therapy both fun and effective.

www.otherapy.co.za

23/07/2025

🌟 Tips for Starting the Term Well 🌟

As we settle back into the school routine, it’s helpful to set your child up for success with a few simple strategies:

🗓 Create a Weekly Planner
Children thrive on predictability. A visual planner helps them feel secure, know what to expect, and prepare for their day. Include school, therapies, playtime, and rest.

👀 Use Visual Clues
Icons, colours, or pictures help younger children or those with additional needs easily understand what each day looks like. It supports independence and reduces anxiety.

💤 Plan for Downtime
A full calendar can be overwhelming. Make space for quiet moments, even 20 minutes of family time or a TV-free dinner can make a big difference to emotional wellbeing.

A gentle, consistent routine helps your child feel calm, confident, and ready to learn. 🌈

www.otherapy.co.za

09/07/2025

The school term can be demanding, physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Holidays offer a chance for your child to rest and reset. But rest doesn’t have to mean inactivity.

Encourage calming, low-demand activities like lying in a hammock, playing in a quiet sensory corner, listening to soft music, or going on nature walks. These moments give the nervous system a break, support emotional regulation, and allow time to process all the growth that’s happened during therapy. 🌿

Give permission for slower days – it's not a step backwards; it's part of a healthy rhythm, and you can still keep OT goals in play the fun way! 🎯

Occupational therapy is about functional, everyday skills which the holidays are full of opportunities to reinforce them naturally!

🖌 Let your child help bake to practise sequencing, bilateral coordination, and fine motor skills.
🦄 Playing board games supports turn-taking, emotional regulation, and impulse control.
🧼 Even tidying up toys or helping with gardening offers rich sensory and motor practice.

No worksheets needed, just involve your child in real-life, hands-on fun. Keep it light, playful, and pressure-free, and you’ll be surprised how much progress continues during this break. 🎉

www.otherapy.co.za

02/07/2025

3 Ways to Process OT Feedback Without Feeling Stuck

1. Give yourself permission to feel.
Acknowledging your emotions is the first step toward understanding and growth.
2. Book a follow-up chat to clarify next steps.
Open communication with your OT can provide clarity and direction.
3. Focus on connection with your child before correction.
Building a strong bond creates a foundation for effective support and guidance.

Therapy isn't just about the child, it's about supporting YOU too. Embrace the journey with compassion and patience, and remember, we're here to support every step of the way.

www.otherapy.co.za

25/06/2025

It's okay not to have all the answers today.

Every step forward, no matter how small, is progress. Choose on thing to focus on this week and make that your goal!

Reflecting on your journey can provide clarity and motivation. We'd love to hear from you:

🌟 What's one small win you've had since your last OT session?

Sharing your experiences can inspire and support others in our community.

www.otherapy.co.za

18/06/2025

Why OT Feedback Can Feel So Emotional

Understanding the emotional impact of feedback helps you give yourself grace.

It often feels highly emotional because:

- It touches your hopes and fears for your child.
- It can bring up feelings of guilt or helplessness.
- It's a lot of information at once.

It's okay to feel a mix of emotions. Acknowledge them, and remember that seeking support is a strength, not a weakness.

We're here to walk this journey with you.

www.otherapy.co.za

15/06/2025

To the Dads Who Make All the Difference…

Happy Father’s Day to the incredible Dads in our community! 💙

Whether you’re the one cheering from the sidelines, reading the same bedtime story for the hundredth time, or patiently practicing OT home strategies — you are making a lasting difference.

Your love, strength, and presence mean the world to your children, and to us too.
At Kirsty Fleischer OT, we’re so grateful for the Dads who show up, stay curious, and believe in their child’s unique potential.

Today, we celebrate you — the Dads who help build bridges to confidence, joy, and growth.

💙 Thank you for being amazing.

11/06/2025

What to Do After an OT Feedback Session

Feeling flooded after an OT session? Here's where to start:

✅ Take notes or ask for a summary in writing.
✅ Ask your OT to prioritise the top 3 things to focus on.
✅ Create a realistic home routine to support therapy goals.

Remember, consistency and support at home amplify the benefits of therapy.

www.otherapy.co.za

Address

24 Saltfleet Road
Westville
3629

Telephone

+27825199279

Website

http://www.otherapy.co.za/

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