Leapfrog Occupational Therapy

21/05/2026

Exciting News at Leapfrog Occupational Therapy 🌿

We are excited to introduce Marna Smit as she joins forces with Mariette van Wijk at Leapfrog Occupational Therapy!

Marna is an Occupational Therapist with experience in children’s development, mental health, chronic pain, concussion rehabilitation, and working across a variety of healthcare settings both in South Africa and New Zealand.

Although her career has taken her far, Worcester has always been home. Born and raised in Worcester, Marna recently returned to the Boland after nearly 18 years away, bringing with her both professional experience and a deep understanding of the local community and families.

As a wife and mother herself, Marna understands the importance of supporting children and families in a practical, compassionate, and meaningful way. She is passionate about helping children build confidence, independence, and the skills needed to thrive in everyday life.

Together, Marna and Mariette are excited to continue supporting children and families through quality Occupational Therapy services — helping every child grow, develop, and flourish 🌱

We look forward to this exciting new chapter together!

📞 WhatsApp: 082 708 7097 or email 📧 otleapfrog@gmail.com

20/05/2026

Okay, we’re gonna let you in on a little secret…

While everyone is obsessing over fine motor skills, tracing, worksheets, and pencil grip… gross motor movement and heavy work are where so much of the real development is happening.

Of course fine motor skills matter. But development happens in sequence.

Before the hands can control a pencil well, the body first has to develop:
• Core stability
• Shoulder strength
• Bilateral coordination
• Postural control
• Body awareness
• Sensory integration

And that development happens through movement.

Lifting.
Pushing.
Pulling.
Dragging.
Climbing.
Digging.
Carrying.
Building.

Heavy work activates the proprioceptive system: one of the nervous system’s most powerful organizers for regulation, coordination, motor planning, attention, and spatial awareness.

But heavy work is not just a “pre-writing activity” or a stepping stone to academics.

The human body is biologically designed to move, resist force, carry weight, climb, push, pull, and engage with the physical world across the entire lifespan.

Children don’t outgrow this need. Adults don’t either.

Research consistently links movement and proprioceptive input to:
• Stronger emotional regulation
• Healthier nervous system function
• Improved executive functioning
• Better focus and attention
• Greater confidence and resilience
• Stronger cognitive performance and learning outcomes

Yet somehow we’ve normalized expecting children to sit still for long periods while minimizing the very systems the brain depends on to learn well.

The irony?
The path to healthier development, stronger learning, and even better handwriting often starts far away from the worksheet.

It starts with movement.

So stop obsessing over worksheets and start obsessing over: climbing, carrying, balancing, lifting, pushing, hauling, digging, jumping, dragging, rough-and-tumble play, obstacle courses, uneven terrain, and whole-body movement.

20/05/2026

08/05/2026

08/05/2026

Exciting News!!

Marna started with her first session at WNPS this morning. Smiles all the way.

Thank you WNPS for the opportunity!

May many lives be touched!

03/05/2026

03/05/2026

Spot on! 🎯

03/01/2026

Get your orders in for school. Single balls of playdough also available @ R10 each.

08/12/2025