Pediatric Massage Becomes Child's Play

Practitioners of Pediatric Massage Therapy explain that in order to properly massage a child who can fully communicate to an adult, they must fully communicate like a child.

Sources who perform massage therapy, working with children who are chronically ill or disabled, say these children typically experience adults/doctors doing things to them, sometimes painful, without their permission or in spite of their protests.

Pediatric massage therapy, then, acts as the child's self-affirming experience whereby the child can actively work with the practitioner to heal themselves.

Body Therapy Associates say acting out a variety of whatever engages the child's imagination (like dragons, cars or TV shows) becomes the backdrop for the massage. The child's attention is focused primarily on voice and the massage can begin.

The practitioner should be comfortable working with the parents in the room watching quietly watching from the sidelines, so that the practitioner can facilitate both the child's and parents' comfort.

Pediatric massage specialists should hold short sessions at first. They should also be able to work in a variety of positions including supported side lying, supine, and semi-reclined, at first, working toward a traditional traditional table position.

Verbal signals for feedback on the proper amount of therapeutic pressure, such as "green" for "go ahead," "yellow" for "slow," and "red" for "Stop! It hurts!" are also important so that the child feels a sense of ownership and control over their body. The practitioner needs to respect their wishes so they know they can trust you to listen.

In this manner, both the parent and child can focus on the therapeutic experience of the massage.