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

Home
South Africa
Sandton
Gabbi Katzenellenbogen OT

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

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! 🙌

16/09/2025

✨ ✨
Some children don’t respond to touch the way we’d expect. This is called tactile under-reactivity.

👕 They might not notice clothing that’s twisted or uncomfortable.
🎨 They may not feel when their hands or face are messy.
🩹 They may even struggle to register pain.

Because their sensory system doesn’t always “pick up” on these sensations, it can affect how they interact with their world and their body awareness.

💡 The good news? With the right support, we can help children become more aware of sensory input—boosting their development, confidence, and everyday participation!

09/09/2025

🌟 🌟
Ever noticed a child who avoids hugs, refuses certain clothes, or hates messy play? 👕🧦🎨

This could be tactile over-reactivity – when the sense of touch is extra sensitive. Everyday sensations, like clothing tags or brushing past someone in a crowd, can feel overwhelming or even painful.

It’s not about being “fussy” — their nervous system is simply on high alert. ⚡

✨ The good news? With the right sensory support and strategies, these children can feel more comfortable, confident, and ready to explore their world! 🌍💪

02/09/2025

Did you know our tactile system is our sense of touch? 🖐️ It’s the largest sensory system in our body, helping us understand textures, temperature, pressure, and even pain.

For children, this system is HUGE in shaping how they explore, learn, and feel safe in their world. 🌍
👉 When it’s out of sync, kids may avoid certain sensations (like messy play) or constantly seek out touch.

💡 Supporting the tactile system can improve focus, emotional regulation, and confidence!

🔎 Stay tuned every for more insights into sensory systems and child development.

26/08/2025

We will be covering Sensory integration with some exciting activities. Stay tuned

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/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Gabbi Katzenellenbogen OT posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Gabbi Katzenellenbogen OT:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Sandton?