Interviews
Here's a selection of BrainAbility interviews with loads of information ideal for parents, educators and students.
HELPING YOUR CHILD NAVIGATE THROUGH YEAR-END EXAMS
1 November 2024
The Afternoon Beat, Cii Radio
It's year-end exam time! Join us during The Afternoon Beat show when Ayesha Ismail from Cii Radio talks to Dalena van der Westhuizen, Cognitive Development Specialist and co-founder of BrainAbility about common cognitive development challenges that students face during exam preparation, and how parents can help address these.
They also discuss whether a child's age and developmental stage affect their motivation and ability to focus on studying for finals; and what role intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation play in a child's approach to studying - and of course, how parents can foster a healthy balance.
Missed the interview? Click here to listen to the podcast.
YEAR-END EXAMS: HOW TO MOTIVATE YOUR CHILD
8 November 2023
The Afternoon Beat, Cii Radio
It's year-end exam time! Join us during The Afternoon Beat show today when Ayesha Ismail from Cii Radio talks to Dalena van der Westhuizen, Cognitive Development Specialist and co-founder of BrainAbility, to find out what demotivates a child when it comes to learning, how to motivate a child during the year-end exams, and what can be be done to ensure a better academic year in 2024.
Missed the interview? No problem! Click here to listen to the podcast.
STUDY TIPS FOR GRADE 12'S
5 September 2023
The Afternoon Beat, Cii Radio
Is your child in Grade 11 or Grade 12 this year (or next)? Then join us during The Afternoon Beat show when Ayesha Ismail from Cii Radio talks to Dalena van der Westhuizen, Cognitive Development Specialist and co-founder of BrainAbility, about Study Tips for Grade 12's.
Missed the interview? No problem! Click here to listen to the podcast.
INTERNASIONALE BREINBEWUSMAKINGSWEEK 2023
14 Maart 2023
Oggendkuier met Susan, Pretoria FM
Hierdie week vier ons Internasionale Breinbewusmakingsweek.
Susan Botha praat vanoggend in 'Oggendkuier met Susan' met Dalena van der Westhuizen van BrainAbility daaroor.
Kom luister saam na interessante breinfeite, en staan reg vir 'n prettige uitdaging aan die luisteraars!
Luister op 104.2 FM, DSTV Kanaal 887, of klik hier om aanlyn te luister: https://radiosa.org/pretoria-fm/
OUR CHILDREN'S READING CRISIS
8 March 2023
The Afternoon Beat with Ayesha Ismail, Cii Radio
The data from the recently released 2030 Reading Panel Report, paints a bleak picture about South African children's ability to read and read for meaning. But why are so many children struggling with reading and comprehension despite reading programs, being in good schools, or already receiving help in some or other form?
Join us during The Afternoon Beat show when Ayesha Ismail talks to Dalena van der Westhuizen, Cognitive Development Specialist and co-founder of BrainAbility, to unpack the underlying causes of most reading and comprehension struggles.
Missed the interview? No problem! Click here to listen to the podcast:
MAKE THE MOST OF TERM 4 AND THE 2023 ACADEMIC YEAR
12 October 2022
The Afternoon Beat with Ayesha Ismail, Cii Radio
Join us during The Afternoon Beat show when Ayesha Ismail talks to Dalena van der Westhuizen, Cognitive Development Specialist and co-founder of BrainAbility.
Dalena gives parents practical advice and tips on what they can do NOW to ensure a better Term 4 (and 2023 academic year).
Missed the interview? No problem!
Click here to listen to the podcast.
IF TERM 2 DIDN'T GO WELL, LET'S PUT A PLAN TOGETHER FOR TERM 3
19 July 2022
The Afternoon Beat with Ayesha Ismail, Cii Radio
Join us during The Afternoon Beat show when Dalena van der Westhuizen, Cognitive Development Specialist and co-founder of BrainAbility, talks to Ayesha Ismail from Cii Radio about practical things a parent can do when Term 2 didn't go as planned. Dalena gives advice on how to put a plan together for Term 3.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
THE EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME ON OUR CHILDREN
1 July 2022
The Afternoon Beat with Ayesha Ismail, Cii Radio
Join us during The Afternoon Beat show when Dalena van der Westhuizen, co-founder of BrainAbility, talks to Ayesha Ismail from Cii Radio about the latest research on the effects of screen time on children - especially their learning ability, concentration, memory, etc. Dalena shares the negatives but also the positives about screen time.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
EXAM PREPARATION HELP
3 June 2022
The Afternoon Beat with Ayesha Ismail, Cii Radio
It's mid-year exam time - join us during The Afternoon Beat show when Dalena van der Westhuizen, co-founder of BrainAbility, talks about overcoming hurdles and preparing for the mid-year exams.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
BREINFEITE VIR INTERNASIONALE BREINBEWUSMAKINGSWEEK 2022
14 Maart 2022
Oggendkuier met Susan Botha, Pretoria FM
Hoekom vergeet ek? Hoekom sukkel my kind met leer of konsentreer? Is ek te oud om my brein te verbeter? Hoe kan ek my brein fiks en gesond hou?
14 - 22 Maart 2022 is Internasionale Breinbewusmakings Week! Susan Botha het met met Dalena van der Westhuizen, Kognitiewe Ontwikkeling Spesialis, oor allerlei interessante breinfeite gesêls.
Klik hier om na 'n opname van die onderhoud te luister.
GETTING SCHOOL KIDS TO CHANGE FROM HOLIDAY MODE TO WORK MODE
31 January 2022
The Afternoon Beat with Ayesha Ismail, Cii Radio
Great interview for parents and educators to listen to!
Join us during The Afternoon Beat show when Dalena van der Westhuizen, co-founder of BrainAbility, gives parents and educators tips on what they can do now to ensure a better academic year.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
TEDx Talk: LESSONS LEARNED FROM TRAINING 101,000 BRAINS
December 2021 - TEDx West Monroe, USA
Dr. Amy Lawson Moore, Cognitive Psychologist, Gibson Institute of Cognitive Research
We aren’t stuck with the cognitive cards we’ve been dealt! Cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Lawson Moore shares lessons she and her colleagues have learned about brain training from their clinical research and experience working with more than 101,000 brains.
In this talk, Dr. Moore illustrates how brain training should match the complexity of cognition, the importance of achieving real-life benefits, and the universal applicability of brain training for all ages. Weaving her peer-reviewed research results with stories of hope, she shares how cognitive training is so much more than ‘brain games’!
Dr. Amy Moore is a Cognitive Psychologist at LearningRx in Colorado Springs, CO at the headquarters of a worldwide network of brain training centers where she specializes in cognitive training and cognition assessment for neurodevelopmental disorders, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and age-related cognitive decline.
Dr. Moore also serves as VP of Research at Gibson Institute of Cognitive Research, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people struggling with brain disorders and injuries. Her brain training research has been published in peer-reviewed medical and psychology journals and presented at conferences around the United States.
She is a former child development specialist, education administrator, with a PhD in psychology and a Master’s degree in early childhood education. She’s a board-certified Christian counselor, Editor-in-Chief of Modern Brain Journal, co-host of the podcast Brainy Moms, a married Mom of 3 boys, and an ADHD warrior.
Click here to listen to the TEDx talk.
LET'S TALK ABOUT DYSLEXIA
29 October 2021
The Afternoon Beat with Ayesha Ismail, Cii Radio
October is International Dyslexia Awareness Month!
Join us during The Afternoon Beat show when Dalena van der Westhuizen, co-founder of BrainAbility, answer questions about Dyslexia and explain underlying causes of reading struggles.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ADHD
22 October 2021
The Afternoon Beat with Ayesha Ismail, Cii Radio
October is International ADHD Awareness Month!
Join us during The Afternoon Beat show when Dalena van der Westhuizen, co-founder of BrainAbility, answer questions about ADHD and explain underlying causes of attention struggles.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
EXAM STRESS
10 September 2021
The Afternoon Beat with Ayesha Ismail, Cii Radio
Many kids, and often parents too, really stress during exam times. During The Afternoon Beat show, presenter Ayesha Ismail talks to Dalena van der Westhuizen, Cognitive Development Specialist from BrainAbility, about how to best handle exam stress.
Dalena also shares some great research based study tips!
Click here to listen to the podcast.
KIDS AND THE BENEFITS OF BOREDOM
2 July 2021
The Afternoon Beat with Ayesha Ismail, Cii Radio
With kids at home for a longer period than initially planned, many parents wonder how to get around the kids getting bored. Is it actually good for kids to be bored, or should they be kept busy constantly? During The Afternoon Beat show, presenter Ayesha Ismail talks to Dalena van der Westhuizen about this.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
KOM ONS PRAAT OOR LEERPROBLEME
16 Maart 2020
KYKnet en GROOTfm 90.5 se Die GROOT Ontbyt
Tydens die 25e Internasionale Breinbewusmakings Week, praat die GROOT Ontbyt span met Dalena van der Westhuizen oor kinders en leerprobleme, asook wenke oor hoe om makliker te leer en huiswerk te doen.
Klik hier om na die onderhoud te kyk.
STUDIEWENKE
30 Julie 2019
KYKnet en GROOTfm 90.5 se Die GROOT Ontbyt
Die Matriek eindeksamen is net om die draai! Groot FM 90.5 se GROOT Ontbyt span het met Dalena van der Westhuizen gesêls oor wat die nuutste navorsing ons leer oor hoe om effektief te studeer.
Klik hier om na die onderhoud te luister.
WAT HOU DIE WERKPLEK VAN 2025 IN?
6 Mei 2019
Elsje van Jaarsveld, Pretoria FM
Wat hou die werksplek van 2025 in? Wat vertel die nuutste navorsing ons oor die vaardighede wat in die werksplek van die toekoms belangrik gaan wees?
Elsje praat met Dalena van der Westhuizen van BrainAbility oor hierdie interessante onderwerp.
DIE VERSKIL WAT KOGNITIEWE ONTWIKKELING KAN MAAK
27 Maart 2019
Johann Els, Radio Kansel
Johann praat met Dalena van der Westhuizen van BrainAbility oor nuwe ontwikkelinge in breinontwikkeling navorsing en die verskil wat kognitiewe breinontwikkeling in mense se lewens kan maak.
DIE BELANGRIKHEID VAN KOGNITIEWE VAARDIGHEDE VIR LEER, LEES EN KONSENTRASIE
13 Maart 2019
Elsje van Jaarsveld, Pretoria FM
Elsje praat met Dalena van der Westhuizen van BrainAbility oor Internasionale Breinbewusmakings Week, kognitiewe breinfunksies se rol in lees, leer en konsentrasie, en die belangrikheid om jou kognitiewe vaardighede te laat assesseer.
KOGNITIEWE BREINFUNKSIES EN HUL INVLOED OP JOU DAAGLIKSE LEWE
11 Maart 2019
GROOTfm
Die GROOT FM span praat met Dalena van der Wethuizen oor Internasionale Breinbewusmakings Week, kognitiewe breinfunksies se invloed op ons alledaagse lewens, en doen selfs 'n paar breinoefeninge!
GROOT FM Interview 11 March 2019
EKSAMEN HULP
26 Maart 2018
RSG Brabbeltyd, Charlene Lackay
Dalena van der Westhuizen van BrainAbility praat met Charlene Lackay oor hoe om jou kind te ondersteun om beter vir eksamens voor te berei.
HOE JOU BREIN KAN VERBETER EN DIE HOOP WAT DIT BRING
15 Maart 2018
Johann Els, Radio Kansel
Johann Els praat met Dalena van der Westhuizen van BrainAbility oor hoe jou brein kan verbeter en die hoop wat dit vir mense kan gee.
WAT IS NEUROPLASTISITEIT?
14 Maart 2018
Elsje van Jaarsveld, Pretoria FM
Elsje van Jaarsveld praat met Dalena van der Westhuizen van BrainAbility oor neuroplastisiteit.
WAT IS BREINOEFENINGE?
26 Februarie 2018
RSG Brabbeltyd, Charlene Lackay
Charlene Lackay praat met Dalena van der Westhuizen van BrainAbility oor breinoefeninge.