Dr Wietske Boon B.Socsci (Hons) Psychology UP. MDIAC (Play Therapy) Unisa. PhD (Early Childhood Education) UP.

Specialises in the following aspects regarding children:

Emotional assessment
Did your child experience trauma and you are uncertain if he/she dealt with it?
Are you unsure if your child can cope emotionally?
Does your child experience difficulty to communicate his/her emotions effectively?

Emotional development
Are you concerned about your child’s emotional reactions on daily events?
Does your child have difficulty handling his/her emotions?
Does your child have difficulty communicating his/her emotions effectively?

Behavioural difficulties
Are you concerned about your child’s temper tantrums?
Is your child often disobedient?
Does the school often complain about his/her behaviour?

Social skills
Does your child make appropriate eye-contact?
Does he/she have good relationships with friends?
Is he/she extremely shy or withdrawn?

Changes in environment
Are you feeling unsure how your child will cope with a new baby in the family?
Are you concerned if your child will adapt at a new school?
Does your child have difficulty settling in after you moved?
Are you planning to emigrate and want to prepare your child for the changes?

Divorce
Are you unsure how to prepare your child for your divorce?
Are you concerned about your child during or after your divorce?
Does your child have difficulty accepting the changes due to divorce?

Medical conditions
Will your child be admitted to hospital, but he/she has a fear for doctors and hospitals?
Is there a family member who is ill and you feel unsure how to explain the illness to your child?
Does your child have difficulty handling a loved one’s illness?

Death and the grieving process
Did a loved one pass away?
Do you feel unsure how to prepare your child for the death of a loved one who is terminally ill?
Is your child terminally ill and he/she needs therapy to deal with his/her emotions?

Children with special needs
Are you concerned about your child’s emotional development?
Does your child need help learning appropriate social skills?
Do the brothers/sisters have issues regarding a child’s special needs?

Preventative interventions
Are you concerned if your child will handle certain situations appropriately in future?
Do you want your child to learn the necessary skills he/she will need in future?
Do you want to prepare your child emotionally and socially for the future?

Parental guidance
Do you have questions you want to discuss with a therapist?
Do you doubt in your parenting style?
Do you feel you need guidance regarding education and child development?

School readiness

School readiness assessments are done to determine if a Grade R learner will cope with the Grade 1 curriculum. It is important to ensure that a child is ready for school as there is a correlation between school readiness and academic progress.

The School Readiness Assessment, which takes 2.5 hours, assesses the following areas of development:

• Social- and emotional development.
• Physical and gross motor development.
• Fine-motor development and co-ordination.
• Visual perception and integration.
• Mathematical and numeracy ability.
• Body awareness and self-knowledge.
• Language, cognitive thinking and auditory perception.
  

After completion of the assessment the parents receive a complete report of results as well as recommendations to prepare the child for the start of his/her school career.