Body Sense

Autumn/Winter 2010

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Tummy” CHILD MASSAGE FOR KIDS AND PARENTS By Martine Groeneveld good and the attention from mom or dad is the icing on the cake. Massage can be a wonderful part of a bedtime or naptime routine, but also can be fun during playtime. Combined with stories, rhymes, and games, massage is a wonderful way for parents to cherish their children with loving touch and undivided attention. M A little massage goes a long way. Nurturing touch during early childhood is proven to be beneficial for healthy child development. Research has shown the benefits of massage in many different aspects. MASSAGE ENHANCES HEALTHY SLEEP PATTERNS Massage before bedtime increases melatonin (a sleep hormone) excretion at night. In a two-week study, this resulted in the adjustment of babies sleeping through the night and being active during the day sooner than babies not receiving the massage. MASSAGE RELIEVES ANXIETY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS Massage has shown to decrease the levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) in healthy and ill babies and children, and to increase the levels of dopamine and serotonin (relaxation hormones). any children love to be nurtured by their parents with a little massage. It feels MASSAGE HELPS BUILD A HEALTHY BODY IMAGE Body image is a “mental picture” a child has of his or her own body and is central to the sense of self. The foundation for a healthy body image is developed during infancy and early childhood, initially in response to the touching, holding, or tactile nurturing of the parents. A good foundation is needed to prevent future body distortions. Massage Rhymes and Games Turn massage into a relaxing and fun activity by adding rhymes, stories, and games. Here are some examples: • Animal Parade Let your child’s favorite animals tiptoe over her back on their way to bed. Walk your fingers up from the hips to the neck. Stroke with your whole hand back down, before walking up again. Repeat these movements for every animal your child comes up with. What sounds do these animals make? • Rainbow Repeat stroking from the shoulders down to the hips in a slow rhythm, as you say, “Red, green, yellow, and blue, I made this rainbow just for you.” • This little piggy went to … Roll each toe or finger gently as you say, “This little piggy went to … ” Let your child fill in the blank with his or her favorite places. For example, “This little piggy went to … the zoo!” Or, “This little piggy went to a play date with [name of a friend].” autumn/winter 2010 Body Sense 15

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