Founded with the desire to fill the void in the availability of facilities that accommodate learners with neuro-developmental delays, a local mother, wife and founder of Pontem Developmental Centre, Anneke Green, steps back from the classroom to invite Get It into her colourful world of learning, parenting, and finding her tribe at work and home.
The 42-year-old is happily married to Ryan Green and a proud mother to their son Sebastian. Anneke speaks fondly about the family’s morning routine that starts off with an abrupt awakening by Sebastian, a morning cup of coffee, and family time before the day starts.
These are some of the reasons she founded the centre.
“I love to spend time with our son. I do not want to miss out on anything whether it be sports, a bake sale or just waiting for him after school. Starting the centre enabled me to be available (and enjoy) the privilege of being his mom.”
The fact that she is constantly learning in both her professional and personal life is what she loves the most about what she does. As a teacher and as a mother, Anneke believes that boundaries are necessary for the learning process.
“Sebastian is 7 years old, and though I’m fully committed to support and encourage him in his academic journey, I am first and foremost his Mom. We have open communication with his teacher at school and I am more than ready to do extra work and intervention if needed. My husband and I set firm boundaries and routines at home which support the learning process, but I am Sebastian’s mom, and not his teacher,” she expresses.
While upholding values of respect and honesty as a family, Anneke adds that they have been blessed with the most amazing son. Their after school car discussions and “bedtime-lights-off” chats are the best – a relationship that is not taken for granted.
So much so, that it overlaps into her professional life. She tells Get It that the value and importance of working together can never be underestimated. “Open and honest communication and working as a team is of utmost importance for a child’s physical-, emotional-, social- and cognitive development.”
In January 2023 the centre hosted the first Know Your Tribe event with the goal to empower parents to know to which professionals to turn when they suspect that their child is struggling in a specific area of development.
Pontem’s slogan is “a way for every child”, and since inception in 2018 the centre has been a home for learners who do not comfortably fit into the mainstream school system because they may have neuro-developmental delays. “Many children who are blessed with the intellectual capacity to succeed in mainstream schools were being marginalised. It is our goal to find that way for every child that enters our centre. We aim to give each child (and parent) a sense of worth and acceptance,” Anneke explains.
She defines neuro-developmental delays as maturity or lack of normal development within the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) which may affect the child’s emotions, learning ability, self-control, and memory.
“Examples of neuro-developmental delays are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), communication disorders, impairments in vision and hearing, intellectual developmental disorder, motor- and specific learning disorders. In short, it means that a child is developing certain skills slower than their peers. With early intervention and support, they will typically catch up.”
By using an individualistic approach to achieve the highest level of functioning for each unique individual, Anneke says that movement and the use of senses are integrated into every learning experience.
“It has been scientifically indicated that children with low muscle tone, poor focus, poor concentration, and problematic sensory integration must move to be able to learn. Our staff are trained in Mindfulness, Play Therapy and Brain Gain Neurofeedback Training. Each Pontem Centre has a unique extracurricular activity to further stimulate the learners e.g. Therapeutic Horse Riding by Tristone Stables at Pontem Bloemfontein in Groenvlei.”
Early signs parents can look out for when identifying a possible delay in development may include problems with language and speech, motor skills, behaviour, memory, and learning. Anneke thus advises that parents should “keep in mind that children reach their developmental milestones at their own pace, and some move faster than others.”
As Anneke, continues to build her tribe in her profession, she closes off by emphasising the importance of having her tribe in her life.
“I don’t take Ryan or Sebastian for granted. I am so blessed to have them as MINE. I love them with all my heart, and I am grateful for every moment spent with them. I would not have my life any other way… I want Sebastian to look at Pontem one day and be as proud of me as I am of him.”
TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY: GYPSEEENIA LION
