Hi, I’m Kirsten
From a young age I knew I wanted to work with children which led me to study occupational therapy. After graduating at the University of Cape Town in 2007 (BSc OT), I completed my community service year in 2008. I started working with children immediately, working in both private practice and school-based settings in Cape Town.
In 2011, I completed my post-grad training in Sensory Integration through the South African Institute for Sensory Integration (SAISI), giving me further insight into how children process and respond to sensory information.
From the onset, I realised I had a passion for working with children in group settings, specifically with fine motor control difficulties. I love the group dynamic, the comradery, collaboration and just the right amount of peer pressure. The children don’t realise they’re working, they’re too busy imagining, singing silly songs, and laughing at nonsense stories. As an OT, I know that when a child works alone, every tissue ball scrunched or peg placed feels like effort. But in a group, they’ve rolled twenty balls before they even notice, because they’re having fun. And yes, especially in the all-boy groups, there’s a whole lot of playful energy… and I absolutely love it.”
This has been my passion for over 16 years!
On a more personal note, I’m married to Bren and we have three children, Isla, Nathan, and Ryan and two pampered pooches. My favourite ways to unwind are going for a run with a friend, spending time with my family in nature, floating on a lilo in the sunshine, or curling up with a gripping crime novel.
Testimonials
We have been fortunate enough to work with Kirsten since 2013. Her ten week Handwriting for Heroes programme has been a wonderful asset to the children who are needing fine motor skills support and skills development. This compliments their holistic development well and is a cost effective way to integrate support through group work and specialist facilitation. Handwriting for Heroes is a programme the children really enjoy due to Kirsten’s creative, interactive and engaging approach. An added bonus of this programme is Kirsten’s excellent communication with parents and teachers, which really encourages wrap around support in encouraging children to reach their potential. I’d highly recommend participation in this programme for those needing a focused fine motor approach!
It gives me great pleasure to write this testimonial on behalf of Kirsten Cross. Kirsten is an Occupational Therapist currently running her Fine-Motor Groups called Handwriting for Heroes, at Wynberg Boys’ Junior School and over the past few years I have worked closely with her. Her dedication and expertise have transformed our classroom environment, providing invaluable support to our young learners both in individual sessions and in groups.
The Handwriting for Heroes programme has made a remarkable impact on our Grade R boy’s. Kirsten approaches each session with a blend of creativity and professionalism that resonates deeply with our boy’s, teachers and parents. Her innovative activities are designed not only to enhance dexterity and coordination but also to make learning an enjoyable and engaging experience. The progress we’ve observed in our boy’s is a testament to Kirsten’s skillful methods and compassionate approach. Under her guidance, our boy’s have developed greater confidence in their abilities, showing improvement in tasks such as writing, drawing, and manipulating small objects. The tailored programme she provides is both effective and age-appropriate, ensuring that each child receives the support they need to thrive. In addition to her technical expertise, Kirsten brings a warm and encouraging presence to every session, fostering a positive and nurturing environment. Her ability to connect with our young boy’s and inspire them is truly exceptional. The feedback received from parents has always been positive.
I wholeheartedly recommend Kirsten and the Handwriting for Heroes programme to any educational setting wanting to use the programme or her expertise. Her contributions have been invaluable, and we are incredibly grateful for the positive influence she has had on our Grade R learners.
Coming from an OT Mom, the program was phenomenal. seeing how carefully it was put together to address the dynamic needs of my son put me at such ease. Kirsten builds a fun and trusting relationship with the learners and builds their confidence.
My daughter is very young for her class and was recommended some basic OT to get her ready for Grade 1. She didn’t need an intense one-on-one intervention, just some help with handwriting readiness and strengthening exercises. Kirsten’s 10-week Superheroes programme was perfect, with a fantastic interactive homework book and video feedback from her each week on where to focus. She enjoyed learning in the fun group environment with 2 other children and was excited about doing the exercises and homework each week. I’d highly recommend the course for any kids entering big school and needing a little assistance to get them handwriting ready.
Dear Kirsten,
Thank you so much for your time, dedication, and the effort you’ve invested in working with Zakariyah. We have noticed a marked improvement in him, and we are eager to engage with his teacher to determine whether this progress has also been reflected in the school environment.
Your programme has been truly outstanding. We thoroughly enjoyed being active participants in our son’s educational journey. The hands-on approach, the instructional videos, and the thoughtfully provided resources made a significant difference in how we supported him at home.
As parents, we often overthink things because we want the best for our children. Sometimes, it’s the small, simple changes that make the biggest difference, yet these are often overlooked. Your programme helped us realize that, and we are grateful.
If Zakariyah has the opportunity to participate in this programme again, we would wholeheartedly support it. While we recognize that he may not yet be at the level he should be, the support we’ve received through this programme has been invaluable, not only for him but for us as parents as well.
