What are the opening hours?

Monday 08:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00 Thursday 08:00 - 17:00 Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Gabbi Katzenellenbogen OT

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Gabbi Katzenellenbogen OT

Paediatric occupational therapy private practice in Sandton
- Sensory integration
- DIR Floortime
- SOS feeding

19/11/2025

🧩 Puzzle-Building Tips to Build Visual Skills!

In OT, we love puzzles — not just because they’re fun, but because they build essential visual-perceptual and problem-solving skills.

Here’s an easier way to tackle a new puzzle 👇
1️⃣ Turn all the pieces picture-side up
2️⃣ Choose one part of the puzzle to start with — e.g. an animal
3️⃣ Find the colours and patterns that match that animal
4️⃣ Build that animal first
5️⃣ Choose another animal/section
6️⃣ Build the rest of the picture from there

✨ Starting with a meaningful part of the picture is often easier than doing the border first — especially for kids!
This approach supports:
✅ Visual closure
✅ Spatial awareness
✅ Attention to detail
✅ Organisation + frustration tolerance

18/11/2025

🔉 Under-reactivity to Sound — What Does It Look Like?

Some children hear sounds, but their brain may not fully register or respond to them. This means they may need more input or repetition to process what’s being said.

These children might:
• Seem like they’re not listening
• Often ask “What?” or need things repeated
• Not respond to their name right away
• Struggle to understand speech in noisy places

It’s important to remember —
They’re not ignoring you on purpose.
Their brain just needs more support to process sound. 💛

If this sounds familiar, OT can help strengthen auditory processing and improve everyday participation.

12/11/2025

🧩 Working on Visual Perceptual Skills
In this activity, the adult builds a simple DUPLO tower while child copies it.
Then comes the fun part 👀
The child closes their eyes, the adult makes 1–2 sneaky changes, and the child has to spot the differences and fix their tower!

This type of play helps kids build important visual perceptual skills like:
✅ Visual memory
✅ Visual discrimination
✅ Figure–ground awareness
✅ Attention to detail
✅ Problem-solving

These skills are essential for reading, writing, copying from the board, building puzzles, handwriting, and more!

Fun + learning = OT magic 💛

11/11/2025

🔊 Over-reactivity to Sound — What Does It Mean?

Some children hear everyday noises more intensely than others.
Their brain interprets common sounds like an alarm, which can feel overwhelming.

Kids who are sensitive to sound may:
• Cover their ears
• Get upset in noisy or echoey spaces
• Startle easily
• Avoid group activities
• Feel bothered by sounds others don’t even notice

This can lead to anxiety, meltdowns, or avoiding social situations — not because they’re “difficult,” but because the world feels too loud.

The good news?
💛 Sensory-friendly strategies and OT support can make a BIG difference.

If this sounds like your child, you’re not alone — reach out, we’re here to help!

05/11/2025

🌟 Tummy Towel Rides! 🌟

In this activity, a toddler lies on their tummy on a towel while an adult gently pulls them across the floor.
Simple, playful — and packed with benefits!

This movement provides:
✅ Vestibular input — helps with balance, body awareness, and regulation
✅ Back extensor muscle strengthening — builds core + postural muscles needed for sitting, crawling, and play
✅ Calming + organizing sensory input — great for helping little bodies feel more regulated and focused

Towel rides are a fun way to support development while enjoying playtime together 🤗

Always go slow and follow your child’s lead!

04/11/2025

👂 What is the Auditory System?
Our auditory system is so much more than just our ears — it’s how the brain interprets and responds to sound.

It helps us:
✅ Understand speech
✅ Tune in (or tune out!) sounds
✅ Follow verbal instructions
✅ Stay calm or alert depending on what we hear

For some children, sounds may feel too much or not enough — and this can affect attention, learning, and behaviour.

If your child struggles with noisy spaces, following instructions, or seems overly sensitive to sound, support from an OT could help 💛

29/10/2025

Instead of drawing on paper try these fun alternatives- Shaving foam, hot chocolate powder and sugar. This works on the tactile system and provides great feedback into the fingers to learn how to draw letters and numbers.

28/10/2025

Messy play = meaningful play! 🎨👶

Did you know that using food in play can help your child’s tactile (touch) system develop? 🖐️ Exploring textures like rice, yoghurt, or jelly powder helps little ones become more comfortable with different sensations — and can even support picky eaters over time! 🍚🍦🍫

Let your child explore at their own pace, and remember — it’s okay to get a little messy. That’s how learning happens! 💕

21/10/2025

🍝 Tactile play with food for toddlers! 🖐️
Did you know that mealtimes are the perfect opportunity to support your child’s tactile (touch) development?

Let your little one explore, squish, and feel their food — it’s all part of learning! Messy play helps children become more comfortable with different textures and can even support picky eaters over time.

✨ Tips for tactile-sensitive toddlers:
• Keep a small towel nearby for wiping hands if needed.
• Offer a spoon or fork if they’re not ready for direct touch.
• Model touching the food yourself — show that it’s safe and fun!

💛 Remember: never force your child to touch food. Let exploration happen at their own pace.

14/10/2025

Adding tactile (touch-based) opportunities in the classroom can make a huge difference for children’s focus, regulation, and fine motor skills.

Here are some easy ways to include more tactile play in your day:
✨ Texture trays – rice, kinetic sand, or fabric scraps
✨ Sensory writing – use sand or shaving cream to trace letters
✨ Craft time – mix up textures like foil, felt, and tissue paper
✨ “Touch & Guess” – hide items in a bag and let kids describe what they feel!

Tactile input isn’t just fun — it supports learning, attention, and sensory regulation throughout the day. 🌈

10/10/2025

We love this game to work on midline crossing.
Sitting backwards on a chair and throwing and catching a ball to either side works on trunk rotation which is the foundation for midline crossing.

07/10/2025

🎨 Colourful Rice Play! 🌈
Sensory play doesn’t have to be complicated — sometimes all you need is a handful of rice and a splash of colour!

This easy recipe is perfect for a fun, tactile activity with your child

✨ How to make it:
Mix uncooked rice, vinegar, food colouring, and a few drops of essential oil.
Shake it all up and lay it out to dry — voilà, sensory rice ready to play!

💡 Play ideas once it’s dry:
🔹 Hide small toys and go on a “treasure hunt”
🔹 Use pegs or tongs to pick up items
🔹 Write letters, numbers, or shapes in the rice

This activity encourages fine motor skills, creativity, and sensory exploration — all while having fun! 🙌

Address

173 Rivonia Road
Sandton
2196

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 17:00

Website

http://www.gkot.co.za/

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