Massage for Children

Research has shown that pediatric massage, or massage for children, has many benefits, especially in reducing anxiety and chronic pain. I once had a client who told me that when her son was young and started to have an asthma attack, she would massage his back. She was sure the massage saved them many trips to the emergency room.

If you are a massage therapist or healthcare professional who wants to learn pediatric massage, take a look at the Gentle Massage for Children courses.

Here are just a few guidelines for massaging children, adapted from the article "Touching the Future: Gentle Massage for Children" by Shay Beider in the November 2006 issue of Massage Magazine.

• Always ask the child if he/she wants to receive massage.
• Understand the differences between adult and child bodies. For example, children have more touch receptors per square inch than adults and can be more easily overstimulated. Children's bones are also not as solid as adults.
• Understand the child's level of psychological development and communicate in a way that the child can process and that helps build trust. Explain massage in age-appropriate ways.

Nurturing touch is essential for helping children develop into well-adjusted adults, and massage offers a great way to provide that touch.