The biggest form of positive touch is massage,
which is incredibly beneficial for children with additional needs.
Some schools have also
incorporated Story Massage
into their curriculum, and
feedback from one such
school stated:
‘We immediately started
using it with our pupils and
noticed benefits such as
increased eye contact and
engagement with stories
almost immediately’.
Read their feedback here .
incorporated Story Massage
into their curriculum, and
feedback from one such
school stated:
‘We immediately started
using it with our pupils and
noticed benefits such as
increased eye contact and
engagement with stories
almost immediately’.
Read their feedback here .
The benefits of massage include:
The form of massage I use is Story Massage, which combines the use of ten massage strokes with a story, song or rhyme, each adapted to your child and their individual needs. If they have a favourite nursery rhyme, for example, I can adapt the strokes to fit with the song, combining two positive interactions.
Story Massage is extremely adaptable, and the strokes can be applied on any accessible and appropriate part of the child to best suit them, ie, shoulders, back, hands or legs. No oil is used, so clothes don’t need to be removed, and the pressure can differ, again depending on the preference and temperament of your child.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Story Massage, and reading other positive examples, their website can be found here.
In the meantime, here are some Massage Stories for you to try:
- Strengthens the immune system
- Improves body awareness and balance
- Enhances attentiveness
- Helps the child become more open to physical prompts
- Alleviates depressive symptoms
- Reduces pain
- Reduces stress hormones
- Helps develop trust and relationships
- Makes hygiene care easier
hello world
The form of massage I use is Story Massage, which combines the use of ten massage strokes with a story, song or rhyme, each adapted to your child and their individual needs. If they have a favourite nursery rhyme, for example, I can adapt the strokes to fit with the song, combining two positive interactions.
Story Massage is extremely adaptable, and the strokes can be applied on any accessible and appropriate part of the child to best suit them, ie, shoulders, back, hands or legs. No oil is used, so clothes don’t need to be removed, and the pressure can differ, again depending on the preference and temperament of your child.
Research, and many years of use, have found that the key benefits of using Story Massage for children with additional needs include:
- Increased communication skills
- Improved concentration
- Reduced anxiety
- Increased social interaction
- Greater touch tolerance
- Better sleep
If you’re interested in finding out more about Story Massage, and reading other positive examples, their website can be found here.
In the meantime, here are some Massage Stories for you to try:
