Kirsty Fleischer OT

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Kirsty Fleischer OT

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

27/08/2026

✨ Tactile Box! ✨
A tactile box is a fun, hands-on activity designed to encourage children to explore different textures, shapes and objects through touch. 👐💜
This box is filled with a variety of items, including 🌸 soft fabric flowers, 🦋 butterflies, 🔤 textured letters, 🔷 colourful shapes and a wooden box with different openings to explore.

Using tools such as the peg adds an extra challenge, encouraging children to pick up, move and manipulate the objects while developing fine-motor skills, hand strength, hand-eye coordination and bilateral coordination.

The different textures and materials also provide opportunities for sensory exploration, tactile discrimination and curiosity. 🌈
A simple activity can become a great opportunity for learning, movement and sensory development! 💜
SensoryExploration ChildDevelopment OTActivities PediatricOT PlayBasedLearning

17/08/2026

✏️supporting left handed learner✏️

Kirst recently attended a course specifically focused on supporting left-handed children and gained some valuable practical insights to bring into paediatric OT practice.

We live in a predominantly right-handed world, where everyday tools such as scissors, rulers, computer mice and even vegetable peelers are often designed with right-handed users in mind. This means that small adjustments can make a BIG difference for left-handed children.

🌟Some key things learnt:
• Hand preference develops before precision, and children should generally have an established hand preference by GradeR.
• Less than 1% of the population is truly ambidextrous.
• Children may swap hands because their preferred hand becomes tired, they are copying an adult, or their preferred hand has not yet developed sufficiently.

🌟Small changes can make a big difference:
✂️ Provide left-handed scissors
📏Use left-handed rulers
🪑 Position left-handed children on the left side of a right-handed classmate
📄 When demonstrating, try sitting opposite a left-handed child so they can mirror the movement % Position the paper at approximately 30-45° to support comfortable handwriting

11/08/2026

Why are there so many different writing tools in an OT toolbox? ✏️🌈
It’s not just about colouring… each tool has a purpose!

Square crayons = a great starting point!
Square crayons help little hands develop their grip and are a great starting block for learning how to hold a crayon.

Small hands? Try a short triangle crayon!

Their size and shape can make them easier for little hands to hold while developing towards a tripod grip.

Triangle pencils can guide little fingers.

Fat, triangular pencils with finger holes can help guide the fingers towards a more functional pencil grip.

Some tools are for more than colouring!

Fat triangular pencil crayons can be more challenging to manipulate than crayons, making them great for activities that work on eye-hand coordination, such as joining the dots.

Once the grip is mastered…

A thinner pencil can be introduced as the child develops the strength, control and coordination needed for a more refined grip.

26/07/2026

🧰 What’s in an OT Toolbox? Pick-Up Sticks! 🌈
They may look like a simple game, but pick-up sticks are one of the most versatile tools in an Occupational Therapist’s toolbox! ✨
Here are just a few ways we use them:
🎨 Painting – use them as paintbrushes for grasp practice and creativity.
🌈 Colour matching – build colour recognition, sorting, and visual discrimination skills.
🔢 Counting – make early maths fun while encouraging attention and turn-taking.
🔺 Shape building – create shapes, letters, and patterns to develop spatial awareness and problem-solving.
🖍️ Scratch pen – use them with scratch art to encourage precision, hand control, and creativity.
🎯 And of course… Pick-Up Sticks! – the classic game is fantastic for developing fine motor control, pincer grasp, bilateral coordination, visual perception, patience, and concentration.
Sometimes the simplest tools offer the biggest opportunities for learning through play. 💙
Which activity would your little one enjoy most? Let us know below! 👇
HandSkills VisualMotorSkills

24/07/2026

🧰✨ What’s in an OT toolbox?
More than you might think!
✂️ Different scissors for different hands and skill levels.
🌈 Bright colours to keep activities fun, engaging, and motivating.
✋ Grip holders and adapted tools to make tasks easier and build independence.
🧩 Special equipment chosen to help every child succeed at their own pace.
Every item has a purpose, and every tool helps turn everyday activities into opportunities for learning, confidence, and growth. 💚
TherapyTools LearningThroughPlay KirstyFleischerOT

23/06/2026

✂️ Snip, snip… learning to cut is more than just arts and crafts!
Last night, Kirsty Fleischer hosted an online presentation for the parents of WPP on the topic of cutting skills.

Parents explored:
✂️ How to teach cutting step-by-step
✂️ Different types of scissors and when to use them
✂️ Materials that support success at each stage
✂️ Practical tips to make cutting fun and achievable at home
✂️ Adaptive tools that help children master this important skill

The session was hands-on and practical, and we trust that parents are feeling more empowered and confident to get cutting at home. Knowing when to use what can make all the difference!
Developing cutting skills supports hand strength, bilateral coordination, visual-motor integration and independence in everyday tasks.

21/06/2026

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads and father figures! 💙
This Father’s Day, we got creative and made homemade stress balls — a fun activity that encourages hand strength, sensory exploration, and a little stress relief too! 🎈✨
Wishing all the dads out there a day filled with love, laughter, and plenty of reasons to squeeze the stress away. 💪😊
StressBallFun

21/05/2026

Building little hands, one peg at a time ✏️🎨🖐️
This playful activity helps develop important fine motor and visual skills in a fun, engaging way:
✏️ Pencil grip – placing and holding the pegs encourages correct finger positioning and strengthens the small muscles needed for writing.
🌈 Sequencing – matching the coloured pegs in the correct order builds planning, memory, and sequencing skills.
👀 Hand-eye coordination – children use visual information to guide their hand movements accurately while placing each peg.
Learning through play is where the magic happens ✨
OTActivities ChildDevelopment KidsActivities

10/05/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms, grandmothers, caregivers, and mother figures 💐
Thank you for the love, patience, strength, and care you give every single day. Your support helps children grow, learn, and thrive in ways that truly matter.
Wishing you a day filled with appreciation, joy, and special moments with your loved ones 🤍

02/05/2026

💡 Small, consistent changes to everyday meals can have a meaningful impact on your child’s focus, energy and overall wellbeing.

For more practical family-friendly ideas and simple nutrition swaps, follow who shared these helpful insights.

At Kirsty Fleischer OT, we know that children thrive when their bodies, brains and sensory systems are supported together, and nutrition plays an important role in helping them feel ready to learn, move and succeed. 🌱

www.otherapy.co.za

Address

24 Saltfleet Road
Westville
3629

Telephone

+27825199279

Website

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

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