Kandice Kornblum RMT

CHOICES!!!

We all love to make our own decisions! This is especially true for children!
If considering applying massage to your child at home, consider giving as many choices as possible!
Some examples include; location of massage, music options, lighting, or offering different textures or toys! As always, pay attention to body language that a child may be using to get their point across.

Choices give us empowerment and autonomy and that helps us to feel safe and in control. The result is a relaxed nervous system and the ability to experience all of the wonderful benefits of our massage!

A little choice goes a long way!

It's all about getting creative!

Massage provides proprioceptive input, which can help regulate our child’s sensory system. It is also a lovely non-verbal way to promote bonding and connection.

Some autistic children and young people are sensitive to touch, making massage challenging! In these cases, it is very important to respect our child’s boundaries; we should never force anything unessential on our child that they actively dislike.

However, with some gentle perseverance, it is possible to find a way to massage a touch-avoidant child. Some children hate light touch but really enjoy firm touch and deep pressure. Some children don’t like being touched with hands but like the feeling of an object like a brush or a roller on their skin. If we explore touch in a fun, no-pressure way, we are more likely to be successful.

Yup!