Massage & Bodywork

September/October 2013

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Teaching Parents and Caregivers Here are some talking points when teaching pediatric massage to parents and caregivers: • Touch is beneficial in any way, as long as the child welcomes it. This could mean hugs, pats on the back, or even tickles. • Work up to it. Start with touch that makes the child feel comfortable, even if that means them massaging you. • Don't give up! The more you use positive, welcomed touch, the stronger the bond with your child will grow. • Massage isn't just for infants. Massage can help teenagers handle stress—a simple back massage works wonders. Positive touch is about giving the power back to the child. During a massage, children have the power to say "yes" or "no," to lay on their stomach or their side, or to ask for a story to be told during the work. Listen to what your child says and honor those requests. Teaching the Parents When appropriate, teaching parents and caregivers how to therapeutically touch their child is an important part of the healing process. When teaching parents to massage their infants or children, one of the first steps they must take is to be open to their children's cues. This means seeing children for who they are, what they need, and what they are telling the parent through nonverbal communication. Then, as parents provide a soothing or gentle touch, they are not only teaching their child what healthy touch looks like, they are communicating to that child "I hear you," "You are safe," and "I am here for you now." These messages, communicated by the primary caregiver, are vital for a sense of emotional healing. "Many children who have experienced trauma or have been exposed to drugs in utero usually have a lot of sensory needs," Benson says. "They can be easily overwhelmed by noises; they are anxious and startle easily, and may not have experienced gentle or nurturing touch as infants." One benefit of pediatric massage is that once parents find a way to connect with their children through touch therapy, it is well received. You do not have to announce, "It's time for a massage," because children are requesting it. This benefit not only empowers the child to request healthy touch, but allows a parent to feel proactive in their child's care. Pediatric massage has tremendous impact, especially when offered to children who have suffered through traumatic events. The value of safe, nurturing touch is a soothing salve for these little clients. Teaching parents and caregivers how to offer the work to their children creates a strong therapeutic path for healing. Notes 1. National Child Traumatic Stress Network, "How Is Early Childhood Trauma Unique?" accessed August 2013, www.nctsn.org/content/howearly-childhood-trauma-unique. 2. National Child Traumatic Stress Network, "Medical Events & Traumatic Stress in Children and Families," accessed August 2013, www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/ edu_materials/MedicalTraumaticStress.pdf. 3. US Department of Health & Human Services Children's Bureau, "Statistics & Research," accessed August 2013, www. acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/researchdata-technology/statistics-research. Tina Allen is the founder and director of the Liddle Kidz Foundation. She is the recipient of the 2012 Massage Therapy Foundation/Performance Health Humanitarian Award. For more information on the foundation's Global Volunteer Outreach, visit www.liddlekidz.org. massage, and I fell asleep. When I awoke, my dad said he never saw me sleep so well." Elizabeth, age 15 www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 65

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