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The Librarian

Today, I took my daughter to the library for story time. As we collected our craft project, one my favorite touch studies came to mind. Many of you may have already heard it, but it always reminds me about the simplicity of massage and touch when I start making it all too complicated.

Librarians were instructed alternately to touch and not touch the hands of students as they handed back their library cards Then the students were interviewed. Those who had been touched reported far greater positive feelings about themselves, the library, and the librarians than those who had not been touched.

This occurred even though the touch was fleeting and the students didn't even remember it!*

Pediatric massage was one of my first interests within the world of massage therapy. We focus on other populations: the elderly, stressed parents, the infirm, and infants. However, I want to bring attention to another under-served population - children. I know most practitioners do not routinely work on children in their practice, which is fine. Often we leave the responsibility of massage to parents. Infant massage classes are great, but few parents take them soon enough. Those parents who do take infant massage courses may not know whether they should continue with massage once their children grow up. Today, children are growing up in a world with wildly a distorted view of touch. Schools are enacting “No Touch” policies (no high-fives, pats on
the back, or hugs). I understand bullying and sexual abuse are terrible tragedies children experience, but they are no reason we should exclude kids from the learning about healthy touch and experiencing benefits of massage. We need to promote the importance of massage and healthy touch for children to our clients. Consider hosting a class on massage for children, having a book on massage for children for parents to check-out, or including information and tips about the benefits of massage for children in a client newsletter. These simple steps can help children all over the country thrive and grow.

As my daughter grabbed her craft off the board, the librarian patted her on the head. I saw my daughter look up and smile. I doubt the librarian knows the impact she made, but I was grateful to witness that moment.

Ivy Hultquist, L.M.T.

Advanced Massage Techniques

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Comment by Vlad on March 4, 2010 at 9:29pm: Great post!
I do prenatal massage and if I've worked on a client through their preganacy I will get them a little gift when baby comes along. I usually get them
>DVD that includes info on baby massage. Hopefully it gets parents on the right track.
And you're right - we forget about kiddos.
The only kids I work on are gymnasts (the gym that 2 Olympic gold medalists went to are across the road from my practice).

Terry - loved your comment!.
I come from a big family. I love it when I go home for a visit and a wee nephew or niece will lie on the floor, fling up a foot unto my lap and give me a big smile......I think they like it when their crazy aunt visits! Foot massage time

Comment by Lisa Keys on March 2, 2010 at 8:38pm: Great story. I agree that it seems as though children are left from the spectrum of massage. I am interested in taking a pediatric massage course. I worked with children at the elementary school as an aide and I miss the kids in my life.

Comment by Kevin Green on March 1, 2010 at 9:28am: Great post. Safe touch like safe food and water is needed by all. It would be unwise to let our fear get in the way of nurturing our children. Or each other.