I am a qualified Play Therapist and have been working with children all my life, but nothing could prepare me for having my own “two” children to raise.

Pikanini and our daughter Lisa, was practically born on the same day. When I fell pregnant with Lisa, I was working as a Child Therapist and Volunteer Coordinator at Cotlands in Johannesburg.

Our little girl, has changed life in a BIG way! But I have learnt not to make things more complicated than they have to be. I have learnt to be more patient; that it is OK to have the nappy bag, the play gym and a few toys lying around. I have learnt that this is all part of being a mom. Time is precious. I have learnt that dishes can stand and laundry can wait. It is part of being a family and that is what life is all about.

I offered my first massage course in August 2005, and after the 5 week course the mom’s were all asking me “So where to from here”. I realised that there was a desperate need in the market for a well-researched, one-stop, post-natal service where moms, could network with one another, get advice ranging from sleeping problems to starting on solids, and how to effectively stimulate their babies in a well-coordinated way without lugging them from one class to another.

I started offering a BabyGym course (whole brain development course developed by Dr Melodie de Jager) and Baby Hands Sign Language Workshops and Baby Hands Sign & Rhyme courses (a unique concept in SA). Even Lisa had to participate and she did her first sign (elephant) at the age of 10 months. Being able to communicate with her before she was able to speak opened up a whole new world to us, we were able to understand what she wanted and could tend to her needs before a tantrum was necessary, it also brought us as a family so close to one another because we had access to what she was thinking.

Starting Pikanini was a combination of blind faith in my own abilities and a complete passion for my work. With the devoted support of my husband Andre and our precious daughter Lisa, I now offer all that I have learnt over the years to other parents in the hope that it will bless their families as it has mine.

Let’s start celebrating our children, together!

The FIRST Pikanini Family - Karen, Lisa and Andre van Zyl