A message from Sam's desk
Autumn Preschool
Spring really did spring this year — and September flew by in the most beautiful way. Two months of growth, milestones, birthdays and big decisions. We are a little late, but we have a lot to share.
What a year it has been, and I honestly can't believe Term 3 is already behind us! We feel so incredibly lucky to work with such amazing families and the most special little kiddies.
August hit us all hard with flu season, but we came out the other side a little stronger: stronger connections, stronger bodies, and perhaps even stronger immune systems!
August also brought a milestone close to our hearts: we welcomed our 6th little learner to the Autumn family! This term we explored The Wild, Farm Animals, Pets and Ocean Animals, and every theme has brought new opportunities to discover, learn and grow.
With spring here, we are reminded that growth takes time. Just like a little seed needs patience, sunshine and the right environment to blossom — so do our children.
Our Term 3 Raffle is underway — every ticket supports our school and the exciting plans we have ahead. If you haven't grabbed yours yet, please do!
With love, Teacher Sam
Practice news
Kylie is back!
Welcome back
We are absolutely thrilled to share that Kylie returned to the practice in September — and if you know Kylie, you will know that the therapy rooms felt her absence and celebrated her return in equal measure.
Her recovery has been nothing short of inspiring. She came back with the same warmth, dedication and love for her clients that has always defined her — and honestly, we think the children she works with may have been even more excited to see her than she was to see them.
Kylie, welcome back. You were missed more than words can say.
Speech therapy, every Tuesday
New at Melkbos · Tuesdays
Taylor-Ann, Speech Therapist, is now seeing clients at our Melkbos practice every Tuesday, as part of the wonderful Christopher Rorke Speech Therapy practice.
The relationship between speech, language and sensory processing is deep and significant. Having a speech therapist on site means we can offer our families a more integrated, collaborative approach to their child's care — OT and speech therapy working side by side.
To find out whether speech therapy could support your child, please get in touch.
Happy birthday, Jennie and Kylie!
September brought not one but two birthdays in the SAW family. To two of the most dedicated, warm and extraordinary women in this practice — we hope your birthdays matched everything you pour into this work every single day. We are so lucky to have you both.
Growing and evolving
Bittersweet changes
As we head into the final term of the year, Shout a Whisper is quietly but intentionally growing — and we want to share a little of what that looks like.
Focusing our energy where it matters most
After 6 years of on-site service, we made the decision in Term 3 to end our services at Van Riebeeckstrand Primary School. This was a thoughtful choice that allows us to direct our time, energy and expertise to the spaces and communities where we can make the biggest difference.
We are grateful for our time there, and families from the school are still welcome to be referred to any of our practice sites.
Investing in our spaces
You may start noticing improvements at our various practice sites as the year progresses. We are intentionally upgrading and decluttering to ensure our spaces are the best they can be for our children and families.
We invest in our people
Health Leave Day · 25 September
On Friday 25 September, we gave our entire team something simple but meaningful: a bonus "Health Leave Day".
No sessions. No admin. Just a day to recharge. Whether that was a long-overdue doctor's appointment, a proper afternoon on the couch, a haircut or a full pamper session — it was entirely theirs.
We believe that a therapist who is well cared for is a therapist who can truly care for others. Regulated adults raise regulated children — and the same principle applies to our team.
To our incredible OTs and staff: thank you for everything you give, every single day. You deserve to be looked after too.
Regulated adults raise regulated children.
Autumn Preschool is full!
We are absolutely bursting with joy to share that every place is filled, every spot has a child. Every child has a place where they belong.
This is not just a number. It is a testament to the trust our community has placed in us, and to the extraordinary work of our Autumn Preschool team, who show up every single day with patience, creativity and so much love.
But watch this space…
Don't fret if you were hoping for a spot — we are growing! Same small classes, same individualised attention, but more staff and more space loading. We cannot wait to share more with you. Reach out if you are too curious to wait, and we'll give you the inside scoop.
Term 3 Raffle — one week left
R25 a ticket
This is your final nudge — the draw is almost here. Every ticket goes directly to supporting our beautiful school. Here is what is still up for grabs:
- A puppet from Poppie Productions
- R200 Die Spens café voucher, Melkbos
- Dinner for two at Cassia Restaurant
- R1000 of products from Tiny Tree Toys
- Paintalicious voucher
- 4 × R150 Spur vouchers
- A massage from Kayla
- Bounce World voucher — 4 entries (under 9)
- Little Lemon Delights' lemon meringue pie
- Oxford Stationers voucher
Order here: forms.gle/LKNhJYHVTqF7UHXg6
Pay by EFT or in cash to any Autumn Preschool or Shout a Whisper staff member. Don't miss out!
When the germs arrived — and the team responded
Health & wellbeing · Sensory processing & immunity
August brought flu season with full force — and Autumn Preschool felt it. When a wave of illness hit the school, our team did not hesitate. Every surface was disinfected, every corner was scrubbed, and the school was deep cleaned from top to bottom with a speed and thoroughness we are genuinely proud of.
It is also worth taking a moment to talk about why some children seem to catch everything going around — and what sensory processing has to do with it.
Children with sensory processing differences are often more orally seeking — meaning they mouth objects, put hands in mouths, and explore the world through taste and touch in ways that increase germ exposure.
Dysregulated nervous systems also place the body under a low level of chronic stress, which over time can affect immune resilience. This does not mean illness is inevitable — but it does mean that supporting sensory regulation is about far more than behaviour. It is about whole-body health.
If your child seems to pick up every bug that goes around, it is worth a conversation with us.
Autumn Preschool: end-of-term deep clean
Spring cleaning took on a whole new meaning this September as Autumn Preschool underwent a thorough deep clean from top to bottom. Every room, every surface, every corner — reset and refreshed, ready for the final stretch of the year.
A clean space is more than aesthetic for our children. For sensory systems that are sensitive to their environment, an organised, calm and clutter-free space genuinely supports regulation and focus. Our team showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and did it beautifully.
OT beyond the therapy room: Alexander, Amelia and what function really means
Family stories
One of the things we say often at Shout a Whisper is that OT is about function. Not just what happens in the therapy room, but what happens in the dentist's chair, the emergency room, the classroom, and every other space a child needs to navigate. Recently, two of our families gave us permission to share their stories — and we are so grateful.
Amelia · The dry run
A dental appointment can feel enormous for a child whose nervous system experiences the world more intensely. So Jennie took Amelia to visit Dental Studio Westcoast ahead of time — not for treatment, just to look around, meet the people and see the equipment at her own pace, without any pressure.
A dry run is one of the most powerful tools in our OT toolkit. We often pair it with a Social Story: a short, personalised narrative that walks a child through exactly what to expect, step by step.
Thank you to the team at Dental Studio Westcoast for welcoming Amelia so warmly.
Alexander · A calm presence
When Alexander broke his arm, he landed up in an emergency room — one of the most dysregulating environments a child can find themselves in.
Jennie went to the ER to sit with Alexander and his mom — not because it was on the schedule, but because that is what this practice does.
Having a familiar, calm presence made the experience less frightening and helped ensure it was processed in a positive way.
This is OT. Wherever the child needs it.
Liané — seen through a strength-based lens
A reflection from Emma
The medical world is filled with descriptions and loaded with information on the things a child cannot do. Labels and diagnoses give that information a root cause and a reason. But while they succeed in describing the difficulties, they fail to describe a child's potential, capacity, hope and ability.
The social model of disability reminds us that disability is not always the individual characteristic that limits a child — it is often the environment around them. "A wheelchair user cannot get upstairs because they cannot walk" describes the person. "A wheelchair user cannot get upstairs because there are only stairs" describes the environment. Do you see how the perspective changes everything?
Liané is the epitome of a child who has had to navigate the world of medicine and be labelled with what feels like every diagnosis under the sun. I have had the privilege of treating her as part of her incredible multidisciplinary team.
Seeing her through a strength-based approach — as we do all our children — not only changes the narrative of her medical journey, but of her life and her potential.
Liané is a strong-willed, fiercely bright little girl. She has defied every medical obstacle and fought for her place in the world — a place she always had every right to. Liané was not allowed to be held for the first five months of her life — a reality that would make the bravest of souls fearful of touch. Through her own determination (and her mom's), Liané now loves touch and loves exploring texture: a testimony to the great care of her medical team, her family, and her inner drive not to let any of this history define her.
Liané is loving, engaging and very curious. There is no doubt in our minds that she will reach great heights — and we have no intention of stopping her. We are only privileged to be among those who help hold her, and her family's hands, along the way.
Onwards and upwards, beautiful girl. We back you.
Interactive Metronome
In the therapy room · Have you heard about this?
Interactive Metronome (IM) is one of the most exciting therapy tools in our practice — and we want more families to know about it.
IM uses rhythmic auditory cues to improve timing, attention, coordination and processing speed in the brain. It is particularly powerful for children who struggle with focus, impulse control, reading, writing, coordination or emotional regulation.
We have seen children improve academically, physically and cognitively — sometimes in ways that surprised even us.
Wondering whether IM could help your child? It is absolutely worth a conversation. Reach out and let's talk.
OT tip of the month: surviving the end-of-year rush
Concerts, prize-givings, sports days, class parties, farewells — exciting, but for children whose nervous systems are sensitive to change, noise, crowds and unpredictability, this time of year can be genuinely overwhelming. Here is how to help:
- Prepare them. Talk through what is coming — what will happen, what it will look like, who will be there. Predictability reduces anxiety.
- Build in movement first. A walk, the trampoline, a wheelbarrow race — heavy work before a big event helps regulate the nervous system.
- Have an exit strategy. Know where you can go for a quiet moment. Permission to step away removes the pressure to hold it all together.
- Pack ear protection. Have earplugs or earmuffs ready for noise-sensitive little ones to take the edge off.
- Celebrate the small wins. Attending is enough. Staying for part of it is enough. Trying is always enough.
Reach out if this sounds like your child — we are happy to help.
August was Women's Month
At Shout a Whisper, we are surrounded by women who are phenomenal.
To every mother, grandmother, aunt, caregiver and woman who walks through our doors fighting for her child — we see you and we honour you.
To every woman on our team who shows up with skill, compassion and dedication every single day — we are so proud to stand alongside you.
Women are extraordinary, and we celebrate each and every one of you.