In the area of child growth and development, touch is not an “add-on” rather touch is a necessity. Using the touch sense in the form of massage with children with special needs provides many physiological and social-emotional benefits for the massaged child, as well as the adult providing the massage.
For Jucinda who was born prematurely and at 4 months of age considered “fussy” by her parents Jeff and Sonya, massage was the “miracle” that changed their baby’s life and their own. After one day of instruction in TouchTime™ massage and assisting Sonya and Jeff in detecting the best time at night to massage Jucinda, Sonya reported that she was so surprised that her baby did not have her usual nightly fretful one-hour inconsolable crying spell. After her first nightly massage, Jucinda slept through the night for the first time since her birth. Since the evening went so well, Sonya decided to massage Jucinda after she arose, too, so that the rest of the day could go so well, and it did! Jucinda no longer was “fussy” throughout the day. She did not have to be moved from one room to the next to get comfortable and she started cooing and babbling, which she had not done before. Her quiet alert state was prime for learning and interacting with her parents and the world as her parents could now more readily interact with her, too.
For a child with autism, like Michael at thirty-six months, massage meant that his mother, Caroline, found a way that she could enter his world while her son found a way to enter hers. Caroline was guided to “keep a look-out for a touchable moment,” as that moment may not occur easily for a parent of a child with autism. One morning, when the house was quiet and dark, Michael “backed into” his mother as she was seated on the toilet. She thought, “ah ha this is my moment.” Caroline took a deep breath and with an intentional firm and gentle touch, she began massaging Michael’s shoulders. For the first time, Michael let her! Their relationship began, and Michael began to seek out his mother’s touch during various times of the day.
Being a child with a special need, and the parent of one brings many challenges. Using massage for infants and toddlers (and older children) brings allostasis to both child and parent alike, cognitively, physically, and social-emotionally. Parents are respectful of their children (no matter how young), and request permission to touch their child, watching and waiting for nonverbal or verbal acceptance. During this respectful reciprocal interaction of intentional touch, rhythm, voice, song and/or rhyme, parents follow their child’s lead, read their child’s engagement or disengagement cues, and respond with flexibility and care. As parents engage in respectful interaction, relationships are forming, the baby’s brain is being structured, and parents’ blood pressure lowers as stress hormones (cortisol, norepinephrine, epinephrine) are reduced and “feel good” hormones (serotonin, melatonin, oxytocin, prolactin) are released. Parents of children with special needs reported how they became more confident of their parenting skills and became freer to be a parent instead of a medical technician. Massage engages a multitude of senses, enriches a multitude of bodily functions (improves the immune system, reduces constipation, enhances respiration, circulation, digestion, etc.) and enriches relationships that will last a lifetime.
Let your fingers do the walking. Learn more about massage, for prevention and/or intervention for children with special needs, and further the health, happiness, relaxation and well-being of the children and families you serve.
Dr. Elaine Fogel Schneider is and expert in the areas of communication, touch and parenting. She is the author of Massaging Your Baby – The Joy of TouchTime - Effective Techniques for a Healthier, Happier, More Relaxed Child & Parent (2006) Garden City Park, New York: Square One Publishers. Dr. Schneider resides in Southern California with her husband of three decades and is the proud parent of a newlywed daughter and son-in-law. She is an adjunct faculty for Nova Southeastern University, and California State University Bakersfield. She is the founder of TouchTime™ Institute and provides training for agencies and individuals. You can reach Dr. Elaine at drelaine@touch-time.com or visit her website at www.touch-time.com
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