On the road to connection

When Danelle Gouws noticed her daughter Lila wasn’t quite meeting her early communication milestones, she knew she wanted to act quickly.

Lila, now two, was born two months premature and, by 12 months, was behind in speech and communication compared to other children her age.

“We wanted to do everything we could to help her flourish,” said Mrs Gouws. “And to better understand how we could support her as parents.”

Already accessing speech therapy and physiotherapy for Lila, the family was unsure how Inklings would fit in - especially as they were about to embark on a year-long family gap year across Asia.

But after an initial video call with Inklings Practitioner, Samantha Rivers, their minds were put at ease.

“Sam was warm and understanding right from the start,” Mrs Gouws said.

“We were about to leave home and spend every day travelling as a family of three, but Sam reassured us that Inklings could adapt to wherever we were.”

Telehealth sessions were held from various countries, and the family regularly submitted videos of their everyday interactions with Lila—whether during playtime, mealtime or quiet moments on the road.

“As parents, we often feel pressure to guide or instruct, but stepping back allowed Lila to show us what she was curious about or what she wanted to share,” she said. “It changed how we interacted with her completely.”

What followed were countless small, joyful discoveries - from understanding how Lila’s imagination worked in Taiwan, to sharing conversations in South Korea, and exploring book-sharing and happy mealtimes in Malaysia.

“Every session offered practical, tailored advice unique to Lila’s way of communicating,” said Mrs Gouws.

“Once we understood what to look for and how to respond, we saw a huge shift in her engagement and confidence.”

Like many families, the Gouws faced their fair share of challenges - speech delays, gross motor development concerns, and even an epilepsy diagnosis during the program.

“Through it all, Sam was our biggest cheerleader,” Mrs Gouws said.

“She helped us focus on the progress Lila was making and reminded us of everything she was capable of.”

For families considering the Inklings program, Mrs Gouws has a clear message.

“Absolutely do it. Every child has something important to say, even before they have the words. Inklings helps you hear them.”