setting the mood on what’s happening in the Estate
1 BLUE HILLS MAY '18
YOUR UNIQUE LIFESTYLE
Magazine May 2018 | Issue 3
contents MAY 2018
ESTATE NEWS 04 IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS 06 FROM THE ESTATE MANAGER 10 SALES UPDATE 14 SECURITY UPDATE 16 THE ESTATE’S MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT 17 FIBRE-TO-THE-HOME 18 BUILDING RULES 20 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 23 LANDSCAPING CONTRACT
LIFESTYLE & DÉCOR 08 11 24 25 35
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MAY WE PRESENT THE TRENDS FOR 2018 KITCH, COOL? REASONS TO SHOP AT THRIFT STORES 2018 NEW MINIMUM WAGE
HEALTH & WELLNESS 32 38
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HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT HOW TO KEEP YOUR FRIDGE BACTERIA-FREE
IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS ESTATE MANAGER Percy Manenzhe 083 512 2005 SALES MANAGER Musi Motsuenyane 082 806 1735 / musi@century.co.za SECURITY SITE MANAGER 076 771 9082/ 071 230 1627. Bluehills@thompsec.co.za
Publisher: K-Studio (P ty) Ltd on behalf of Blue Hills Advertising Sales: tobia@k-studio.co. za sales2@k-studio.co. za Editor: Tobia von Zwietring | Chantel du Plooy Design & Layout: K-Studio (P ty) Ltd e tobia@k-studio.co. za t 082 962 8255 f KreatiefStudio
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EMERGENCY Eskom 086 0037 566 JHB Water 0860 562 874 Police 10111 Ambulance 10177 SPCA 011 265 9935 SNAKE CATCHER Mike 083 448 8854
BLUE HILLS EQUESTRIAN ESTATE MANAGEMENT BODY The Blue Hills Equestrian Estate management body has been developed to ensure that should you have a query or wish to address anything on the Estate, we have a team of individuals you can refer your concerns to. This committee goes beyond our monthly Directors’ Meetings, and is instead aimed at ensuring that the running of this Estate is handled with all due care. THE BOARD IS MADE UP OF: • • • • •
Nick Crow, Century Ugen Govender Joel Mokgohlwa Caesar Mtetwa Kanyane Mathibe
THE COMMITTEE IS SUPPORTED BY TRAFALGAR WHO ARE REPRESENTED BY: • • • • •
Michael Schaefer / Director of Trafalgar Shahiem Carr / Director of Trafalgar Ella Louw / Estate Portfolio Manager Percy Manenzhe / Estate Manager Head office support Birdhaven
Should you wish to be involved and have a spare couple of available hours per month, please contact Percy and he can put you in contact with the relevant Committee Heads.
Disclaimer: This Newsletter is produced especially for residents/owners of Blue Hills Estate to provide updates and useful information. It is produced by K-Studio on behalf of Blue Hills Estate HOA. Although every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of content, Blue Hills Estate HOA and/or the Publisher, cannot be held liable for any inaccurate information, and may not agree with all opinions expressed in this publication.
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ESTATE NEWS
From The
Estate Manager’s Desk
Dear Owners, I am sitting here at my desk with a hot cup of joy in my hand, watching the morning sun shining through the sales office and I realize the season has turned and winter is on us. With every season you see a different and beautiful landscape, we just need to slow down a bit and embrace what every season has to offer us... its beauty! What better way than to enjoy a cup of tea while reading our beautiful e-magazine which is packed with Estate information and articles such as the "Kitch, Cool" article by Larushka MarĂŠ, owner of a retro decor shop Re-Trend based in Jo'burg. I would just like to remind you that the intention of the e-magazine is to keep everyone connected, provide helpful information and to invite you to join
upcoming events and activities in and around our beautiful Estate. I am certain you will find something of value in every issue and invite you all to share it with your friends and family. To all the owners of stands that are under construction or new owners busy with their building plans - good luck! This is not an easy journey, but once construction is complete I believe it will be well worth it. To all HOA members, please feel free to write your comments or share your news with us by e-mailing: percym@Trafalgar.co.za Now is a good time to stock up on the important vitamins for the winter season such as your B, C, D & Zinc vitamins, keeping the colds at bay!
Percy Manenzhe 6 BLUE HILLS MAY '18
Unique
Estate Digital Advertising
Let you r b ran d ta ke flight bo o k a spot in ou r Dig ita l M agazines which of fer a n unique opportun it y to g et y our brand notice d by po te nt ial Clients !
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e tob ia @ k-st u d i o . co . za \ s a l es 2 @ k- stu d i o . co . za t 082 962 8255
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN GAUTENG THIS MAY
Huawei Joburg Day – 5 May If you are up for a fun family day out, 947 and Huawei brings you Joburg Day in the Park, at The Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Emmarentia! Bring a blanket, chairs and picnic basket filled with treats and come and enjoy the best local talent around.
Joburg Bubbly Festival 18 - 20 May A Celebration of Cap Classique & Champagne.
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The Bubbly Festival, Hosted at the Park House of events on 7, Hyde Park, plays host to over 15 cap classique and champagne houses. Your ticket includes a glass and 10 MCC tasting coupons.
Harvest Festival – 26 & 27 May
As autumn turns into winter we can expect cosier, home dining with delicious wines and snacks as the cornerstones of any menu. Stock up for winter at the Harvest Festival at Leriba Hotel. Various wine, cheese, olive and herb farms will showcase and sell their produce. Come and enjoy wine tasting while you browse the harvest.
World of Beer Newtown
The SAB World of Beer is the definitive home of beer in South Africa, uncovering the history of this fascinating beverage through a fun, creative and informative tour. From the origins of beer, to insights on its South African story and the brewing process, this tour is essential for anyone who is passionate about beer and curious about its role in South African life.
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ESTATE NEWS
sales update If you have been looking at investing at Blue Hills Estate or know somebody who does, now is the right time as property sales are extremely strong.
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• Total number of stands – 132 • Stands sold – 105 • Percentage of stands sold – 80% • Stands available - 27 • Completed homes – 11 • Stands under construction currently – 22 • Stands sold since the beginning of January 2018 - 9 The long term value of the Estate is set to make it an unprecedented investment. Contact us now to experience this wonderful Estate which is On Show daily 9am-5pm. Contact Musi now on 082 806 1735 or musi@century.co.za for more information or to arrange a viewing of these new stands. This is your opportunity to build your dream family home in this incredible Estate!
We present to you
the trends for 2018 written by Lincoln Interiors
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Classic Modernism
living space. Cut out wooden 3D sculptures and some fashionable blended watercolours together with ‘tongue in the cheek’ memorabilia can make everyone feel at home.
Classic Modernism has created simple identifiable ways to de-clutter and simplify our day-to-day lives. It enables us to focus on the way we live rather than spend time managing the things around us. It also helps to include classic details in a modernist environment to create simplicity, and at the same time it introduces highly detailed elements into our living spaces. Triangular, hexagonal and rounded classical shapes are all a go! Luxurious stones and minerals are used in almost any contemporary way. Smooth, yet glamorous curtaining surrounded by simple lines and complex modernist patterns.
There is nothing plain about this! Let us assist you in making your home a lifestyle experience worth talking about!
Classic forms have stood the test of time and are said to bring a reassuring structure into our lives as we identify with the success of its ‘tried and tested” nature.
Let us assist you in bringing these classic, yet simple luxuries into your home!
Creative Play
Make your home the creative playground that makes you feel at home. Bring the benefit of this technological and digital age into your dwelling by using these technologies to add further texture and life to your living space. Oversized digital prints combined with sculptural furniture will surely bring some interest into your
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Forever Nature
It is said that people draw nearer to nature when they need to feel more “grounded”. The same happens in our daily lives when we surround ourselves with the things that bring us comfort and a sense of peace. Subtle progression of natural textures gives us exactly that. The feeling below your feet when you climb out of a shower … the subtle differences in your visual perimeter where warm and soft natural colours in various applications give you that comforting “feel good” reassurance. Natural textures used in horizontal and vertical planes, furniture, drapings and décor. Let us assist you in bringing a piece of nature inside your home, in a new and classy way.
LIFESTYLE & DÉCOR
contact us for any new
CURTAINS
CURTAINS
for the
BLINDS
MODERN LIFESTYLE
082 774 0934 hello@l-con.co.za
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&
INTERIORS
SECURITY UPDATE
ESTATE NEWS
We reiterate importantly: Residents of Blue Hills Equestrian Estate who are interested in getting panic buttons, which will be linked to the reaction officer’s vehicle and the control room, may contact Percy or the Security Manager for arrangement of installation at their homes.
Once an owner resides in the Estate, he/she can register on the “Click-On” system in order for their visitors to gain access to Blue Hills Equestrian Estate. 14 BLUE HILLS MAY '18
If ever you are travelling home to Blue Hills and you feel unsafe & suspect that you are being followed, Thompson’s security have offered to meet you at a safe collection point to escort homeowners to the Estate but only from specific pick up spots, Cnr R55 & Summit road/Olifantsfontein and secondly robots at Crowthorne shopping centre. Thompson’s site security manager can be contacted on 071 230 1627 (Joe Williams) & 076 771 9082 (Reaction officer) to have your own personal Alarm
system & panic buttons installed for rapid response by the on-site armed reaction officer. Owners are welcome to contact Percy to arrange to have their fingerprints loaded to the access system for easier access into the Estate.
The Estate has installed a state of the art thermal CCTV system, which is monitored by Thompson’s 24/7/365. Cameras have been strategically placed around the Estate to monitor and report on any transgressions. Thermal cameras have been placed along the wetland area separating Blue Hills Equestrian Estate from Blue Hills Country Estate and these will assist in alerting any transgressions in this area.
ESTATE NEWS
The Estate's
Maximum speed limit.
The speed limit is 30Km/h in the Estate.
We don’t have stopstreets in the Estate yet but the HOA is looking at installation of road signs/speed signs throughout the Estate, please ensure that you drive as safe as possible.
There are children walking and riding their bikes to school please ensure that you keep to the speed limit.
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ESTATE NEWS
Fibre
COMMENCEMENT DATE AND PROJECT PLAN TO BE SENT TO RESIDENTS SOON.
-to-the-home
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ESTATE NEWS
rules
• A toilet must be in place before any work commences. • A water meter must be in place and switched on before any work can commence.
• Bin / chicken mesh within the yard to store all rubble. • OHS file to be on-site always.
• Please provide a rough sketch of the layout of the house before work commences.
• Workers to wear clothing with company name / logo for identification purposes.
•
• Workers are not to loiter to other sites.
A green fence of 1.8m high with 80% density must be erected around the fence line using steel poles only. The poles must not be higher than the fence line.
• The fence must be of agricultural make only. • The fence line must have five (5) rows of mesh wire holding the fence in place. •
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line at all times.
The fence must have a locked gate in place to seal off the yard after hours. A contractors sign must be viewable
• Generator must be on-site when needed. • Shed in place within the fence
• First Aider to be on-site at all times. • Cement box for mixing. • Copy of deposit slip for pavement deposit required. • A copy of the builders NHBRC. A copy of the approved plan •
No delivery trucks longer than 9.1m Security or the Estate Manager must be madeaware of deliveries.
• No truck will be allowed on site without pre authorised delivery.
• Obey all operating times as stipulated in the contractor agreement.
Not Allowed • Use of the pavement. First 3m to be clear of building material / rubble at all times. • The use of adjacent plots is not allowed to store building material / rubble or parking of vehicles. No parking of vehicles on the road. • Only SABS tools / equipment allowed on site (e.g. No homemade ladders allowed). • Employees to stay within the fence line of plot working on at all times. • No sharing of access cards. • Contractors to enter and exit through the same gate at all times. • Site to be left clean and tidy at the close of business each day. • No making of fires on site. • Ladders and equipment to be stacked correctly when not in use.
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BUILDING TIMELINES The Board urges all Home Owners to begin submitting and finalising their building plans to ensure they abide by the rules and regulations and avoid being penalised.
Home Owners have been given 24 months to commence building from date of transfer of stand, therefore all home owners need to adhere to this in order to avoid penalties from being incurred.
QA &
Questions & Answers
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Fibre
ESTATE NEWS
ESTATE NEWS
Q A Q A Q A Q A Q A Q
Will this be an open access infrastructure?
A
We did not want additional ”value added” items because we don’t require any at this time. This practice by network operators is simply a way of financing capital projects such as camera installations etc.
Q
What are the projected on-selling costs to residents?
A
The network owner, Clear Access, will be providing services to end users but the end user has the choice to use any affiliated ISP for services. This will ensure that the cost of services remain market related.
Q
Are residents going to be expected to sign a long term contract with the provider or is there provision for month to month service?
A
Clear Access will provide month to month options. I’m sure that other affiliated ISP’s will do the same as this is normal in the industry. The ISP’s all offer benefits to long term contract clients, such as free routers and installation etc.
Yes When is the projected start date? The contract has only just been signed by ourselves and has not been countersigned by the other entity as yet. Therefore the project has not been programmed as yet. What is the completion date? See answer above Are in receipt of a complete project plan? See answer above. We will push the company to provide a project programme asap. Is the installation underground or aerial? Underground What are the benefits expected by Blue Hills from the selected service provider? For example – are they giving any value adds like CCTV points for future add on.
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Be in the know Forward all your questions to percym@trafalgar.co.za
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LIFESTYLE ESTATE & NEWS DÉCOR
LANDSCAPING CONTRACT We would like to announce to you our new landscaping services for the Estate, Servest Landscaping. The HOA Board of directors together with the much recently established procurement sub-committee saw that it was necessary to increase the scope of works and still have a cost saving method on the estate by bringing in Servest landscaping.
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KITSCH, COOL?
Separately, these two words have two completely different meanings, but at Re-Trend, we think kitsch is cool. In moderation, of course, and with style.
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LIFESTYLE & DÉCOR
Re-Trend specialises in mid-century modern and retro furniture and was established on the 1st of April 2016 by the owner, Larushka Maré. The term “mid-century modern” itself is difficult to define. It broadly describes architecture and furniture from the mid 20th century.
T
hink grandma’s house. Retro furniture is mostly furniture pieces that were made in the decades between the late 1950s and the 1980s.
Normally, one would tend to go for the more stylish pieces of these eras, however during these design periods, elements of both kitsch and cool can be found. Although it is difficult to fully escape the captivating pull towards a funky, unusual or “kitsch” piece, few people know how to really make it work.
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LIFESTYLE & DÉCOR It is the right combination of styling, upholstery and choice of colour pattern that will ultimately make it fit in a contemporary environment. The ever-popular mid-century sideboard, that now serves multiple purposes in contemporary homes, is a great example of both a feature as well as a period specific piece that will allow you to showcase your cool decor items, either old or new. The furniture from these design periods stay on trend mainly due to their; • enduring appeal and clean lines; • ability to hold and appreciate in value; • durability; and • multi functionality, which allows them to function in smaller spaces. HOW TO TRANSFORM “KITSCH” INTO COOL IN YOUR OWN HOME Keep your “Kitsch” COOL by choosing accessories or decor pieces that will not detract from the design lines of your key furniture pieces or main design elements in your home.
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LIFESTYLE & DÉCOR You can paint a large piece of “kitsch” furniture the same colour as the wall to help it blend better with the room. Group with modern or other time period pieces for e.g. choose modern chairs to complement a retro table. Use furniture of different heights. The use of indoor plants help transform kitsch into cool as well.
Our shop is a located in Linden, Johannesburg and we are open for trade from Mondays through to Saturdays. We look forward to showing you around.
IG: RetrendLinden FB: Retrend Linden Tel: 0118882593 Address: 62, 6th street, Linden. Johannesburg
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Reasons to shop at thrift stores/pawn shops
LIFESTYLE & DÉCOR
Furniture items from different time periods aren’t the only interior pieces that can add eclectic flair to the modern home. Old windows, doors, shutters, ladders, baths, taps, tiles, wooden floors, light fixtures, sewing machines, TVs, music instruments etc. can all do with a new lease of life, and not necessarily for their original purpose.
A
n old ladder could for e.g. be repurposed as a bookshelf or a bathroom railing, tart tins could become wall art, and an old rustic window could be turned into a coffee table. The possibilities are endless.
Irrespective of whether you use older interior items for their intended use or completely repurposing it – the advantages are substantial.
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4 Good reasons to shop thrift • It is cost-effective – Some true vintage, collector items could sometimes hurt your pocket, but in general buying second-hand is more affordable than buying modern items of the same quality and workmanship. • Kitsch is the new cool – As places like Re-Trend is continuously proving, kitsch is the new cool. By using it in the right room and styling it in the correct way, your vintage/ retro item can make your interior “pop”. • It is friendlier on the environment – Every item you re-use in your home, is one less that ends up on a landfill. • It can give your creativity flight – When it comes to unique, older interior items, there are no rules, no manual as to what goes with what. You therefore have to be more creative and work harder to get it right. The same applies when you are repurposing furniture or fixtures. BLUE HILLS MAY '18
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How to reduce your
CARBON FOOTPRINT written by Chantél Venter
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
“Never before have we had such an awareness of what we are doing to the planet and never before have we had the power to do something about that.” - Sir David Attenborough
W
hile most of us are aware that we need to reduce our carbon footprints, we might not all know where to begin. By following our Action Plan you can start to make a difference in everyday life. This is the third and final instalment of our 7 Step Action Plan. In the previous editions, we covered Steps 1 to 4, namely: Step 1: Reduce water usage.
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Step 2: Work from home one day of the week/carpool or use public transport more. Step 3: Enjoy meat-free Mondays (or eat less meat in general).
equals unnecessary carbon emissions. In the same breath, keeping your devices i.e. smartphones, tablets, laptops etc. powered on at all times, is also a waste. Power your devices down at night or after you have finished using them for that particular day.
Step 4: Recycle
Step 7: Become a savvy consumer
Now, we look at the final three steps.
• Consume less – The making and transporting of a single t-shirt could have the same carbon footprint as a household’s weekly energy consumption. Scary, but true. Buy fewer and buy better quality items. • Buy local, seasonal produce – The growing and storing of food is responsible for the majority of the carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. Local, seasonal produce will therefore have a smaller footprint. • Be informed – Know where your products are coming from and what goes into the manufacturing process so that you can make informed decisions.
Step 5: Plant a tree Trees are amazing. Not only do they turn carbon dioxide into oxygen but they also cool down the earth. According to Urban Forestry, one young tree can absorb nearly 6kg of carbon from the atmosphere annually and a 10-year-old tree can make enough oxygen to support two humans. Step 6: Unplug your chargers & power down. Did you know that even when you have nothing charging, any charger left plugged in will still draw electricity? It isn’t a lot, but an entire household’s chargers plugged in every day, all day, all year is an incredible waste of electricity. And wasted electricity
There are many other, more impactful things you could do. Click here for ideas.
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2018 New Minimum Wage For Domestic Workers R20 or R15 per hour?
N
ever before has there been as much confusion around the minimum wage rate for a domestic worker than is currently the case. Fortunately, this will be somewhat simplified
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on 1 May 2018 when the NATIONAL MINIMUM wage will be introduced. This is the “R 20.00” per hour concept. Irrespective of the work done, or the industry in which the employee is working – this will be the standard minimum hourly rate across the country.
Area A and Area B will fall away.
The current situation is as follows: There is an Area A and Area B. Area A consists mainly of the main Metropolitan areas such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth George and Cape Town. All other areas are deemed to fall within Area B, for example Pofadder (i.e. outlying areas). The hourly rate for Area A is more than Area B, because somehow, at the time of implementing the original Sectoral Determination 7 for domestic workers, the “powers that be” felt that it was cheaper to live in the countryside opposed to the main cities and this has been so from day one.
Currently there are four different rates of pay for domestic workers – R 13.05/ R 11.89/ R 15.28 and R 14.03 depending on where the domestic worker is employed, and the number of hours worked per month. These rates are valid until 30 April 2018, after which the MINIMUM rate for ALL domestic workers becomes R15.00 per hour irrespective of the area in which they work and the number of hours they work. In terms of our Labour Legislation, an employer may NOT REDUCE the salary of an employee WITHOUT their permission! However, the new regulation states that ALL minimum Domestic Worker rates of pay as from 1 May 2018 are to be R 15.00 per hour.
The new situation, will be as follows: New rates have been promulgated to last until 30 April 2018 and thereafter, on 1 May 2018, the R20.00 per hour minimum wage will kick in, and
That being said, the new minimum wage for a Domestic Worker is R15.00 per hour. So, what happened to the minimum rate of R 20.00 per hour? Good question!
LIFESTYLE & DÉCOR
Concessions given It was always on the cards right from the outset when the hearted discussions were under way in terms of a National Minimum wage, that domestic workers’ work may be “compromised” as there was (and still is) a genuine fear of an absolute bloodbath in terms of lost jobs, by virtue of household retrenching their domestic workers en masse (many of these retrenchment would be unfairly conducted, leading to a flood of cases at the CCMA), as they would no longer be able to afford their services. Therefore, it will take a few more years before all domestic workers are at the R20.00 per hour level. Just make sure that if you do away with the services of your domestic worker, that you do so fairly, otherwise you will have a CCMA case on your hands.
For more info contact as.hrconsulting4u@gmail.com | www.ashrconsulting4u.co.za 36 BLUE HILLS MAY '18
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How to keep your fridge bacteria-free Due to the outbreak of Listeriosis, food health and safety has been in the limelight lately. It is therefore a good time to look at the best ways to keep our fridges sanitary and bacteria-free and to also look at ways to better store our food in order to keep them fresher for longer.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
What are the correct temperatures? Fridge – 4 °C or below Freezer – 18 °C
How to clean your fridge Step 1: Once every two weeks, remove everything from your fridge, and wash walls, shelves, bins etc. with dishwashing soap and hot water. Wipe dry with paper towels. Step 2: Combine 1 tsp. unscented bleach to 1 litre hot water. Wash everything and wipe dry using paper towels. Step 3: Do a weekly clean-out of all “Best by” foods and wipe away any spills inside the fridge immediately.
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Eggs Did you know that even fresh, uncracked eggs could contain Salmonella? Therefore, when shopping for eggs, open the carton and ensure there are no cracked shells. At home, store immediately in the coldest part of the fridge in its original carton packaging. Raw meat/poultry/fish When storing or thawing meat, poulty or fish place it on a plate, or in a container, so that its juices doesn’t cross-contaminate other food.
According to The Food Lab, this is how you should organize your fridge: Top shelf: • Ready-to-eat foods i.e. roasted red peppers, humus etc.
• Condiments (jams etc.) • Pickled products • Fruit Middle shelf: • Cooked food • Leftovers • Cheese • Eggs in their carton • Cold meats • Sandwich bread Bottom shelf: • Raw meat/poultry/fish • Dairy (milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, buttermilk etc.) Drawers/Crisper • Vegetables – stored in breathable bags or bags left slightly open • Herbs – washed and stored in between damp paper towels and placed in a plastic zip seal bag
Door • Top – Eggs, butter and cheese • Middle – Condiments • Bottom – Drinks
What shouldn’t go into the fridge? • Tomatoes • Onions • Squash (whole) • Potatoes
JV 40 BLUE HILLS MAY '18
L GA
UN IV
L I T A Y S L R E E
SAFETY is everyone’s business Definition of control: The power to influence or direct people’s behaviour or the course of events. Universality Heath Safety and Environmental Law will assist you! • • • • • • •
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Know and follow Health & Safety policies & procedures. Make yourself aware of all the hazards associated with the job at hand. Don’t use equipment you haven’t been trained on. Do your job safely; don’t put yourself and others at risk. Report potential dangers/risks you see immediately. Take initiative; make suggestions to improve the safety of your work environment. Adhere to Health and Safety principals.
Homeowners’ responsibilities • • • • • • •
Consult with a qualified Health and Safety specialist. Appoint a competent Health and Safety specialist to conduct monthly audits. Do not attempt any shortcuts with regards to safety. Keep all monthly audits in the Health and Safety File, on-site. Keep the File safe for at least three years. Insist on a principle contractor with a letter of good standing. Do not start the project without a stamped notification document from the Department of Labour.
Remember the Inspector can at any time perform an audit and no one is allowed to prevent such an audit. The South African Government is currently in the process to amend the OSH ACT with fines more severe than TAX fines. What about construction sites within the Residential Estate? Section 8(2)(g) highlights the following duties of the Residential Estate: “taking all necessary measures to ensure that the requirements of this Act are complied with by every person in his employment or on premises under his control”
Contact Paul De Beer (MD) / 082 772 0318
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Handwriting
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As Occupational Therapists we frequently receive referrals for handwriting intervention. Although we are living in a tech-savvy era, handwriting remains an important part of today’s educational activities as well as a measure for academic comprehension.
W
hen considering handwriting difficulties, the following words might come to mind; Heavy pencil pressure, incorrect pencil grasp, poor letter formation, difficulty with size, spacing and alignment as well as too fast or slow writing speed. How do these factors influence our end product? Let’s focus on some of the building blocks of handwriting:
Hand dominance: Hand preference usually emerge between the ages of 2-4 years, however hand dominance can occur as late as 7 years. Refined skills develop when we use the same hand consistently when performing tasks. When a child switches between hands they might struggle to execute fine motor tasks that requires learned movement. Postural and shoulder stability: In order to perform fine motor tasks with accurate control, a stable base is necessary. Development of stability and control starts at the trunk, progressing to the elbow, wrist and hand. When a child has poor shoulder stability, they frequently use their entire arm to draw or write rather than small hand and finger movements. Pencil control: Pencil control includes pencil grasp, applied pressure and pencil manipulation. Pencil control is needed for legibility especially when writing speed increases. Letter formation: The building blocks for letter formation are pre-writing skills, which include lines and shapes such as horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, circle and intersecting lines. When these prewriting skills are mastered, children can learn how to accurately form letters. When letters are not
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formed accurately writing speed becomes slower and keeping up in the classroom becomes challenging. Visual perceptual skills: The visual system’s ability to see and give meaning to what is seen. These skills include spatial relations, visual closure, figure ground, visual discrimination, form constancy, eye-hand coordination, visual memory, and visual sequential memory. A child that struggles with visual closure might interpret an ‘a’ that is not completely closed as a ‘u’. Problems with spatial relations might influence letter formation as it involves directionality such as up/down, left/right.
All of these building blocks influence the end product when writing. Handwriting difficulty might have a negative impact on a child’s self-esteem and academic performance resulting in avoidance of handwriting activities. If your child is experiencing difficulties with these aspects of handwriting or you want to know more, contact a registered Occupational Therapist for a comprehensive assessment.
For more information Contact t 082 499 8561 e annemie.ot@gmail.com f Annemie van Zyl Arbeidsterapie / Occupational Therapy
