POSITIVE TOUCH

CATHERINE GAUNT

This article first appeared in Nursery World and is reprinted with permission. 

Nursery World, Vol 103 Page 24 Jan 9, 2003

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Letting children practise massage on their classmates has been shown to promote trust, respect and relaxation.  Catherine Gaunt got in touch at a session for teachers.

Its not perhaps the most usual way of spending a drab, winter Sunday afternoon, but its strangely calming to watch.  In a living room in a house in south London a small group of adults are learning about the benefits of massage for children from a Swedish therapist.

During the past few years infant massage and baby yoga have become accepted and even trendy in the UK, but the benefits of massage for school children are something weve yet to explore.  It couldnt be more different in Sweden where it has been a regular classroom fixture since the early 1990s and its now even established as part of the curriculum.

Solveig Berggren has been teaching massage in Swedish schools to children from nursery age upwards since 1996.  Now shes here to teach this group of British therapists all about the positive effects of massage for children and consider how it can be introduced in the UK.

Originally trained as a sports massage therapist, Solveig worked for a high-ranking Swedish football team, ASA (Orsa), for several years, before turning her attention to the classroom.

It doesnt take long to see the benefits for children she says.  In a short time they become much calmer and less stressed.  You can see the reaction in their expressions.

When she is introducing massage into a school Solveig will spend a day explaining to teachers the movements and rhymes that she uses. The children watch the adults demonstrate the movements on each other and then practise the different techniques on the classmates.  (It goes without saying that at no point are adults involved in the massage itself, which is only ever practiced by the children on their contemporaries).  The movements consist of shoulder, neck, head and hand massage, all of which can take place with children sitting at their desks.

Solveig says that just 15 minutes of massage at the beginning of a lesson will help the children to calm down so that they become more receptive for learning.  First thing in the morning is ideal for the younger children, as this settles them and prepares them for the day ahead.

To keep younger children interested and engaged, Solveig combines stories and rhymes with the movements.  For example, heres an extract from the weather story.

Once there was a land where the sunlight felt so warm.

The sun warmed up the flowers, water, animals and all the people With your hands placed at the shoulders, move slowly down the back, crossing your hands over once or twice. When you reach the base of the back, move back upwards, crossing your hands again.  The movements need to be continuous and the whole hand needs to be in contact with the back.

Then clouds came and blocked the sun and the wind started blowing, first a little and then stronger and stronger.  With both your hands slightly cupped, alternately tap across the top of the back.

There were more clouds, darker and darker, and finally came the rain  Starting at the top of the back, with a hand on each shoulder, drag your fingers down the back again and again, getting a little harder each time

Solveig sees massage as a fantastic way of promoting respect and trust among children.  While she says that children should never be forced to take part, she has found that even children with the worst behavioural problems are won over by curiosity to join in.

She says Its difficult to be a human being when there is more and more violence.  Children are seeking more meaningful activities.  She sees massage as a means for children to explore the physical boundaries of right and wrong.  I teach them that they have the right to their own bodies and they can say no.  When they can recognise healthy, positive touch, this helps them to recognise negative touch.

Certainly the therapists I talk to at the end of the workshop seem to be convinced of the great potential for massage in nurseries and schools here in the UK.  However, most agree that selling the idea wont be easy, with the greatest stumbling block a cultural one, about changing our preconceptions.

Further information on massage in the classroom can be obtained by contacting Solveig Berggren at : 422berggren@telia.com

Editorial Note:

It would be essential to secure the consent of school governors, head teacher and parents to classroom massage, as well as inviting the presence of parents at the session.