Paediatric Massage: Children + Adolescents (4-16 years old)

​Touch is a sense that is one of the first to develop in humans, and probably all forms of life. It is said that touch can convey more than a thousand words, and children are known to thrive with the right amount of physical contact. 

​Paediatric Massage as a therapy seems to work for children, whether they are infants, preschoolers, young children or teens. Furthermore, making massage a routine in the child’s life can help them to grow into a balanced and healthy adult.​

What does Paediatric Massage look like?

Child massage doesn’t always look like adult massage and that’s ok!  

They are encouraged and empowered to take control of their bodies by telling me exactly where and how they want to be massaged. They are in the driver's seat and get to give the orders!

​Children may move around a lot more, they may talk a lot, they may ask the therapist a bunch of questions!  This doesn’t mean that it is not relaxing or calming for them. Children unwind differently and relax in different ways. But rest assured the massage is still having an effect and the effects will become more and more noticeable as the child becomes more comfortable with massage therapy and how it makes them feel.

​Children can wear a pair of comfy, stretchy shorts and a tank top or a bathing suite, and will still be draped as adults. Teens can wear what they are comfortable with or be draped as adults.

Parents are encouraged to quietly stay in the room during treatments and are required to stay in the clinic for children under 14, or with special needs where the parent / care provider is required to be present.

Why is Paediatric Massage important to our children?

​Massage can be helpful for children who experience a wide range of symptoms, from musculoskeletal pain caused by sports injuries or growing pains, to helping with neurological conditions or anxiety. It is a safe environment for them to begin to be body aware and understand what their body needs for wellness, balance, and growth. Children are inquisitive, and have a natural love of learning, especially about themselves! This is a wonderful opportunity for their discovery into self care and to begin a journey of proactive advocacy for their personal good health.

Parents are welcome to ask the therapist about techniques for massaging their child at home. Massaging your child can help create more bonding time and increase a sense of acceptance, safety and calm especially in children with anxiety or mental health challenges.

Benefits of Paediatric Massage

In our treatment, I will help your child learn basic breathing techniques for relaxation, skills to take control of their muscles and relax them at will. 

Some benefits of massage may include:
  • reduction in anxiety and stress symptoms
  • reduction in musculoskeletal pain (growing pains) and increase healing
  • muscle stress and headache relief from devices and/or online schooling
  • better sleep
  • increase in body awareness and neurological development
  • stimulates motor and cognitive development (may increase alertness, speed and accuracy)
  • decrease levels of cortisol (stress hormone) and blood glucose levels. This reduction in stress may boost the immune system.​

History

Paediatric Massage is a form of touch therapy that has been prevalent for centuries all over the world. Ancient cultures first introduced the practice of daily infant massage soon after babies were born, to promote weight gain, co-ordination, and bonding to increase the infants’ ability to thrive. It conveys to the child a sense of security and trust that is very essential for the newcomer into the world.

It has only been in more recent times that massage has been introduced to babies and children in western cultures. It is seen in hospital settings and even more recently in children with developmental or neurological conditions. Some parents are now even seeking the expertise of a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) to help teach them how to massage their own infants and are carrying these skills and rituals with their little ones through childhood and into adolescence.
Massage Therapy for Infants
​Whether your baby is a newborn or several months old, massage can bring immediate and lasting results. You can learn techniques to massage your infant by a qualified Infant Massage RMT or they can be performed on your infant by the therapist themselves, depending on your babies health needs. Massage can help with:
  1. Your baby/child sleep deeper and more soundly.
  2. Promote relaxation and help babies self-regulate and calm.
  3. Enhance neurological development.
  4. Relieve the discomforts of gas, teething, colic and congestion.
  5. Stimulate all of the physiological systems. Massage sparks the neurons in their brains to grow and branch out to encompass other neurons
My extra qualifications are in paediatric massage (not infant). However, I do have some amazing colleagues that I am happy to refer you to if you are interested in learning how to massage your baby, or having your baby treated. It is truly a wonderful experience, and one I would highly recommend for all new parents and babies.
Visit my RESOURCES page for stretching + exercise videos, health care providers in our area and interesting articles. ​

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contact
e.  annethermt@gmail.com
w. annethermt.com
c.  519.777.5055 (text)
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Anne the RMT

practice @
relax. massage therapy
83 Farm Street
Almonte, ON K0A 1A0
relaxmassagegroup.com