Occupational Therapy

Improving Daily Life Skills: The Impact of Occupational Therapy for Kids

Occupational therapy plays a pivotal role in helping children develop the necessary skills to navigate daily life with greater ease and confidence. Whether it's through refining motor skills, improving sensory processing, or fostering independence —Occupational Therapy for children is a powerful tool that empowers young individuals to thrive. What is Occupational Therapy? Occupational therapy (OT) is a holistic, evidence-based healthcare service designed to support individuals in performing meaningful everyday tasks. It focuses on helping individuals develop, recover, or maintain the daily living and working skills needed for independence. For children, this can include everything from improving fine motor skills like

Comprehensive Guide to Child Physical Development Milestones: Physiotherapy Interventions and Occupational Therapy

As children grow, they achieve various physical development milestones that are crucial for their overall well-being. Tracking child development milestones is crucial for understanding a child's growth and identifying any potential delays. In Singapore, awareness of these milestones can significantly aid parents and caregivers in supporting their child's development. This guide provides an overview of key physical development milestones, the roles of physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and the resources available for families. Understanding Child Development Milestones Child development milestones are specific skills and behaviours that most children can achieve within a certain age range. In Singapore, common developmental milestones include: Gross Motor Skills: Achievements like rolling over,

Understanding Occupational Therapy for Children in Singapore: Everything Parents Need to Know

Occupational therapy plays a crucial role in supporting children with developmental needs in Singapore. As a parent, understanding the importance of occupational therapy and its significance in your child's life is crucial. What is Occupational Therapy? At Bridging the Gap, Pediatric Occupational Therapy is part of our Early Intervention Programme, focusing on helping children to the best level of functional ability in school, home, and society. Occupational therapy for children can help in improving gross and fine motor skills, sensory processing, self-regulation, posture, balancing, over-all coordination, visual-motor integration, handwriting, and activities of daily living. Understanding Occupational Therapy in Singapore

Activities To Improve Visual Perception Skills

Have you ever wondered how some kids can easily complete jigsaw puzzles while some requires more time to finish? Or have you ever wondered how some kids can easily identify left and right side of the shoes while others still needed full assistance? These are some of the difficulties of parents and teachers of children with some visual perception difficulties. As adults, we often oversee the importance of our senses. We can easily interpret the world around is through our eyes, ears, nose and hands naturally. However, this isn’t the same way for everyone. From smelling freshly brewed coffee, to

Benefits of Sensory Wall

Learning environment plays a vital role in terms of our children’s over-all development. For parents, when choosing a school, the environment is the first thing being considered. We want the school to be nurturing, safe and at the same time enjoyable. In Bridging the Gap, we have specially designed environment for our children with diverse needs. More than the classroom set up, we give high importance to our sensory gym where our children can explore, play and also regulate themselves before starting their daily routines. Our sensory gym provides various sensory input for the children. We have different types of

What are the Typical and Atypical Behaviours of our children? (Proprioceptive System)

People nowadays are always after their health and well-being. We aren’t against it as it helps in promoting a better lifestyle. With this, people always make sure they eat the healthiest, or can we say the most “instagrammable” meal. People go to the famous fitness centers and try the trendy execises such as HIIT, aerial yoga, pilates, and many more. When people encounter problems with their sense of sight, smell, hearing and taste, it is so easy for them to just go the hospital and see a doctor. However, we always neglect other parts of the sensory system. One of

Understanding our children’s sensory preferences

Diverse – a word that would best describe our children. Each child is unique and as we all say, every child has his or her own pattern. This also goes with communication. Some parents may find it easy to communicate with their children, while some parents struggle. Because of this, questions like: “Can my child even hear me?” or “is there something wrong with the way I talk to my child?” arise. One important factor that can help in improving communication with our children is to know their likes and dislikes. When you know what your child likes, you know

Fine Motor Activities Using Things Found at Home

Since Singapore’s Circuit Breaker was implemented, we are all spending most (if not all) of our time at home which means we needed to come up with a number of ways to keep our children entertained. While schools are conducting online teaching and giving out worksheets, there’s so much more activities that can be done at home which our children can benefit from. If you are worried that the space in your home is not enough or if you are thinking you can’t do activities at home because you cannot buy things outside, then you are mistaken. This is why

Benefits of Tunnels to Children

Playground or play gym is every child’s happy place. This is a place of play and exploration for our kids. This is where they can express themselves, socialize with others and where they can strengthen their motor skills. This is why in Bridging the Gap, we have our sensory gym where the children can express and regulate themselves at the same time. This is very beneficial especially to our kids with SPD or Sensory Processing Disorder. On top of our sensory gym and the various equipments, we would like to highlight the use of tunnels. Tunnels can provide many benefits

Our Sensory Gym and its benefits

When people hear the word GYM, most will think that it is a place to improve physical fitness and health. This is where people run on treadmills and carry dumbbells and whatnot. Also, in most schools, gym is a place where sports leagues are held. But if you walk into a sensory gym, you’d know that it serves a different purpose. What exactly is a sensory gym? A sensory gym is an area for active play which stimulates all the senses of our children. It is a structured environment which includes sensory equipment designed to provide proprioceptive and vestibular sensory

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Educational Assessment

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Nina

"I’ve always been passionate about working with children and making a meaningful impact on their lives. Supporting those with complex developmental needs allows me to turn patience and dedication into real, lasting progress, where even small steps create big change. I enjoy incorporating play and a little “magic” into my lessons- Abracadabra!

Head of Operations |
Head of Early Interventionists | Play Therapist

Nina holds an Advanced Diploma in Special Education from the College of Allied Educators, a Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills, and a Diploma in Health Management and Promotion. For over 10 years of experience supporting children with special needs, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, global developmental delay, and speech delays, she has been empowering children and families at Bridging the Gap since its birth. Nina combines her expertise, compassion, and practical experience to help each child reach their full potential.

 

She has also served as a licensed gym instructor, providing Movement Therapy in a multi-sensory gym environment. As Head Senior Teacher and Play Therapist, Nina creates impactful learning experiences for children and mentors' teachers, guiding the team in developing strategies that nurture every child’s growth and potential.

Wong Suet Leng

"Over time, my perspective expanded. I realized that a child's success is deeply intertwined with the well-being of their entire ecosystem which is their family, their teachers, and their support network."

Head of Programmes | Head of Allied Team |
Principal Speech & Language Therapist

Suet Ling holds a Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Speech Pathology) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Studies (Early Intervention). She finished her degree in University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne. She has 27 years of experience in the field and has undergone extensive training across various leading organizations to strengthen her skills and expertise.

 

Driven by a passion for empowering children and families, Suet Ling works closely with families to navigate complex challenges, equipping them to be strong advocates for their children. She also supports caregivers’ well-being, recognizing that their mental health is crucial for a child’s development.

 

Beyond working directly with children, Suet Ling is deeply committed to training and mentoring teachers and professionals, believing that building capacity in others amplifies her impact. She creates networks of support that help children access the tailored education they need while ensuring families and educators have the tools and resilience to guide them through every transition.

 

Her passion for working with children began early in her career, inspired by the joy of seeing children discover and grow in their own unique ways. This foundational experience continues to guide her belief in the profound impact that thoughtful, compassionate support can have on young lives.

Hannah

"Every day is a chance to turn small moments into meaningful learning opportunities, ensuring that every child feels seen and celebrating even the tiniest progress."

Senior Early Interventionist

Hannah holds a Degree in Special Needs Education and earned the Academic Achievement Award from Leyte Normal University, Philippines. With years of experience teaching children across Early Intervention, Mainstream, and Transition Education programmes, she is dedicated to supporting both children and their families. She empowers children with diverse developmental and learning needs to grow, build confidence, and reach their full potential.

 

Passionate about early intervention, Hannah understands that timely support can make a meaningful difference in a child’s development. She uses creative, hands-on approaches such as role-play and interactive activities to make learning engaging, purposeful, and enjoyable. Hannah believes that every child deserves a nurturing environment where they can explore, express themselves, and truly thrive.

Mickey

"Working in Early intervention allows me to be part of the journeys of different families. It’s fulfilling to know that my efforts, big or small, help make a difference in children’s lives and contribute to their holistic growth."

Senior Early Interventionist

Mickey holds a Degree in Elementary Education, Major in Special Education, from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. With 8 years of experience, she works closely with children in the classroom, witnessing their small milestones and celebrating the pride they feel when achieving something new.

 

Mickey enjoys crafty hobbies such as painting by numbers, building LEGO sets and miniature houses, and completing 500–1000-piece puzzles. These activities help her empathize with students’ patience and persistence as they tackle challenging tasks, allowing her to better support and guide them through learning.

Ying Wen

"I enjoy planning simple activities and games for children, using toys like cooking sets, dolls, or pretend play materials to make learning fun and engaging. It’s always rewarding to see children enjoying the activity while learning at the same time."

Senior Early Interventionist

Ying Wen holds a Degree of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Mental Health from Southern New Hampshire University / INTI International College Subang, Malaysia. She has been serving children and families at Bridging the Gap and finds joy in witnessing each child’s small steps of growth and confidence.

 

She is passionate about Early intervention and Special education, knowing that the right support can help children develop essential skills for learning and daily life. Ying Wen enjoys collaborating with her team to create tailored strategies and activities that meet each child’s unique needs, celebrating every achievement along the way.

Ashley

"What motivates me most is witnessing the small but meaningful progress each child makes, and the daily interactions that help build trust, confidence and joy in learning."

Senior Early Interventionist

Ashley holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Nottingham, Malaysia. She brings her passion for teaching into every classroom moment, turning lessons into engaging mini adventures through singing, acting out story characters, or using games to teach numbers and words.

 

With her role as a Senior Early Interventionist and Teacher-in-Charge at the Buona Vista branch of Bridging the Gap, Ashley is dedicated to understanding each child’s unique needs while making learning fun and meaningful. She creates a supportive and joyful environment where children can explore, grow, and build confidence every day.

Karen

"When I see a child make progress, even the smallest steps- it makes me feel proud."

Senior Early Interventionist

Karen holds a Degree in Special Needs Education from Quest International University, Ipoh, Malaysia. Inspired by her aunt, who has special needs, she developed a deep love and understanding for children with developmental challenges. She has a particular affection for children with Down syndrome, which inspired her to dedicate her career to supporting children with diverse needs.

 

With her role as a Senior Teacher and Teacher-in-Charge at the City Square Mall branch of Bridging the Gap, Karen’s kind and nurturing approach helps children feel motivated, engaged and confident in their learning. She believes children learn best through play and naturalistic settings, integrating growth opportunities into daily routines. Her goal is to provide a safe, loving, and supportive environment where children can explore, learn, and develop at their own pace.

Sangheetha

"Seeing children gain skills, confidence, and independence inspires me and fuels my passion for Early intervention and Special education. I am committed to continuous learning, currently pursuing my Master's degree, to apply the latest strategies and ensure every child reaches their full potential."

After School Care Programme Lead

Sangheetha holds a bachelor's degree in psychology with Honors from the National University of Malaysia and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Children with Special Needs. She has more than 5 years of experience working with children and has been part and now leading the After School Care Programme, which provides a safe and supportive environment for children outside school.

 

Her background includes working with adults facing mental health challenges, volunteering with the Penang Mental Health Association and the I-Life Suicide Prevention Campaign, and conducting project-based research, experiences that shaped her holistic approach to child development. Sangheetha began her career as a Special Needs Teacher, supporting children aged 7–9 with diverse learning needs, and initiated the design of a Snoezelen multi-sensory room, reflecting her commitment to creating engaging and innovative learning environments.

Sellam Rajandran

“I love to sing and dance so I am often adding that element in my sessions by singing phrases or carrying out dance and freeze with my students

Senior Speech Therapist

Sellam holds a Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology from the National University of Singapore. She has 14 years of experience supporting children with special needs across various developmental and learning challenges. Her approach combines professional expertise with creativity, tailoring activities to each child’s unique abilities and interests to maximize engagement and learning outcomes.

 

What drives Sellam most is seeing children achieve progress, whether big or small, and witnessing the joy, pride, and confidence that these successes bring. She is deeply inspired by the resilience and determination of children and their families, and is passionate about advocating for her students, guiding them through challenges, and creating opportunities for them to grow, communicate, and thrive. Her work reflects the belief that early intervention, when delivered with care and creativity, can transform lives.

Bernice Liang

“I’m passionate about martial arts and inclusive sports and I enjoy exploring how activities like Taekwondo can be adapted for children of all abilities. It reflects how I approach teaching- creative, structured, and always focused on helping each child succeed in their own way.

Occupational Therapist

Bernice holds a Master of Special and Inclusive Education (MSIE) from the University of Newcastle, Australia, a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy (Honours) from the Singapore Institute of Technology, and diplomas in Sport Science & Wellness and Biomedical Science from Republic Polytechnic, Singapore. With 5 years of experience, she has supported children and young adults across early intervention programs, clinics, centres, home-based therapy, special schools, hospitals, and school-to-work programs with SG Enable.

 

Bernice is inspired by children’s curiosity and openness, finding joy in witnessing them gain confidence, whether mastering a skill, expressing themselves, or engaging with others. She combines professional expertise with creativity, tailoring activities to each child’s abilities and interests. Passionate about advocating for her students and supporting families, Bernice believes that early intervention, delivered with care and creativity, can transform lives and empower children to thrive.

Michelle Sim

"It is meaningful to walk alongside families as they navigate their child’s developmental journey and to help the little ones build skills that allow them to communicate, participate, and grow more independent in their daily lives

Senior Speech Therapist

Michelle holds a Master’s in Speech Pathology from Curtin University, Western Australia, and has 7 years of experience in early intervention across both social service and private sectors, supporting young children with diverse developmental needs. She has been recognized for her excellence with the NCSS Social Service Award (2017) and the Most Outstanding Clinical Performance Award (2019) among final-year Speech Pathology students in Western Australia.

 

Michelle is passionate about working closely with both children and their families, guiding them through developmental challenges, celebrating every step forward, and equipping them with strategies to thrive in daily life.

 

Her approach blends professional expertise with creativity and empathy, ensuring that learning is engaging, supportive, and tailored to each child’s unique needs. Michelle’s work reflects her belief that early intervention transforms lives, empowering children to communicate effectively, participate fully, and reach their full potential.

Janice Tay

“Drawing from My Journey as a mother and Special Education Professional, I am dedicated in supporting families, breaking down barriers and creating Inclusive environments where every child with developmental needs can flourish and integrate.

 

 

Founder and Clinical Director

Janice Tay, our Founder and Clinical Director, holds a degree in Statistics and Finance and has previously worked in the financial sector. As a mother of a prematurely born child with developmental delays, Janice personally experienced the challenges of navigating mainstream education for a child with special needs. This inspired her to pursue a Master of Education in Special Education at Nanyang Technological University and to establish our Early Intervention center.

 

Passionate about providing holistic education for children with special needs, Janice is a strong advocate for inclusive and supportive environments. She is also a strong advocate in church settings, championing the creation of more structured and supportive environments for children and families. She has deep empathy for children who face learning challenges and social barriers, and she is committed to helping them integrate successfully into society.

 

To equip herself in supporting her own child and other children, Janice studied Educational Psychology and completed courses in ABA Therapy, Dyslexia, and Dyscalculia. She has extensive experience working one-on-one with children, designing Individualized Therapy programs tailored to their unique needs.

Currently, Janice serves as Case Supervisor, providing ongoing guidance and supervision for children’s Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), ensuring each child receives the support they need to thrive.