Massage For Schools
This Programme was originated by two massage therapists, Mia Elmsater and Sylvie Hetu from Sweden and French Canada respectively in the early nineties. It is now used in South Africa; Thailand; USA; Canada and Japan, as well, of course, as the UK. It has been in force since 2000 in the UK with accredited, trained instructors going into schools and teaching the children how to give a peer massage on each other.
Qualified instructors go into schools for a half an hour a session, over a period of six weeks to teach the massage sequence which culminates in a seven–ten minute sequence, once learned, which can be incorporated into the students daily routine enabling them to learn easier.
The final sequence taught is sometimes known as the ‘Seven Minute Soother’, and is done either in the morning, or after lunch, as it allows students to settle into their academic routine easier. It has shown to enable students to focus better and results in better academic achievement and less playground bullying.
Once the instructors have taught the sequence it is then up to the teachers and/or teaching assistants to continue to facilitate the routine, in order to reap the many benefits that this learning experience provides for students, teachers, school, and the wider community.
In the eight or so years it has been taught to children, research has shown the following benefits...
To the child.
- It is for children aged 4-12 years.
- It is part of the PSHCE curriculum
- Promotes emotional resilience.
- Helps children to learn more about themselves and each other.
- Empowers children by enabling them to rehearse positive language, language of choice.
- Reduces propensity for aggressive behaviour.
- Improved working environment
- The child feels special/valued.
- Improved attendance.
- Relieves stress. More able to cope emotionally.
- Less bullying and more respect for others.
- Learn about nurturing touch and can therefore distinguish between appropriated and inappropriate touch.
- Because children are taught to say ‘No’, if they do not wish to have a massage (they are included by doing other duties, for example, holding up flashcards), they learn the ability to say ‘No’ with confidence.
- Learns empathy skill and those of give and take.
- Not only can they say ‘No, but they learn to engage and express their emotions more ably and easily.
- It is fun and different way to interact on a physical level, learning emotional and coping skills to take into adulthood.
- It allows children to become positively aware of their bodies.
To the teacher.
- Calmer group.
- Children more open to learning.
- Easy to implement yet creative.
- Allows children to move on adults terms.
- Everyone can be good at it. Good for self-esteem.
- Easy to implement yet allows creative learning.
- Inclusive to all.
- Holistic learning experience.
- Supports cross curricular activity.
- Constant familiar practice thought the school.
- Anti bullying.
- Less stressful environment.
- More time spent in friendship, less time in disputes within the classroom.
- Meets OFSTED and ECM requirements.
- Massage can be incorporated to use different elements of the national curriculum, in the areas of science, maths, language, geography, Meets OFSTED and ECM requirements.
To the school.
- Reduction in bullying.
- Self esteem rates in children have risen as much as 36%
- Calmer, happier school and environment.
- Better ability to work in pairs/cooperation between individuals.
- Calming influence.
- Better learning.
- Benefits kinaesthetic learning.
- New initiative has positive effects on school.