Back to School and Massage

Along with all of the back to school excitement may come some anxiety and/or stress for your child. Maybe they are starting kindergarten, or attending a new school, or perhaps they didn’t get that teacher they had hoped for. As an adult, stressors may be easier to understand and/or manage. A child may not comprehend these situations as well, therefore leaving them unable to communicate how they feel. Anxiety becomes a problem if it starts to affect your child’s daily routine.

Some Anxiety symptoms that you may notice in your child can include:

• Trouble sleeping
• Restlessness
• Sweating
• Muscle tension
• Headaches
• Chest pain
• Increased heart beat
• Light headedness/Dizziness
• Nausea

Anxiety in children can begin as early as six to nine months with ‘stranger anxiety’ and continue on throughout their lives shifting focus to monsters under the bed, good grades, or keeping friends.  

Many parents seek out massage for their children. Whether they plan on bringing their child in to see a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) or they plan on massaging their child themselves, massage can be extremely beneficial when pertaining to anxiety and/or stress. Studies have shown that children who receive regular massage report less anxiety.

If you plan on incorporating massage into your child’s daily routine, there are a few things to note:

• Massage promotes a bond between the caregiver and child, fostering a strong relationship that will continue to grow
• A stronger bond with your child will increase overall communication
• Massage can give the child an opportunity to talk about their day and some stresses that may be affecting them
• Always ask for your child’s permission before massage

If you decide to have your child go in to see a RMT he/she will work closely with their comfort level.

• Massage can be administered skin to skin or over the clothes depending on what your child is comfortable with
• Having a place your child consistently attends for massage as part of their routine makes for more predictability which can keep anxiety at bay
• The place your child receives massage may be a place they associate with ‘calmness’
• The RMT may incorporate some deep breathing into your child’s treatment to help relieve some of the symptoms of anxiety

As with any new treatment, it is important to contact your child’s doctor before initiating massage.

To book or inquire about a massage or massage instruction for your child with a Paediatric RMT at Boomerang Health please call (905) 553-3155.