We decided to teach peer massage because it can help children with learning, behaviour and relationships, and also can help against bullying.
The programme we use in schools and nurseries is a simple technique created specifically for children.
We began each session by sitting in a circle, or finding a partner, then talking about touch and the massage moves that we would use. We always asked permission from each other before beginning, which is important as it teaches respect for each other using positive touch.
We then began the massage. It is done through clothing, with the children touching each other on the head, neck, back and sometimes arms. An adult reads a story aloud and the children listen and turn what they hear into massage moves. One story was about the weather and the children used moves to illustrate the sun, wind, rain, thunder, hail and snow.
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