Why learn Infant Massage Techniques
Learning
about the validity of caring touch and infant massage within a childcare
setting is a valuable addition to your training as a child carer. In
the UK we often find there is difficulty feeling comfortable with giving
and receiving touch, this something which is a part of our culture –
to be restrained and reserved with our physical responses to other people,
including members of our own families. Today nurturing touch is recognized
as important, and with each passing generation we can work together
to increase its presence in our relationships with those close to us,
and those for whom we care for.
As
a member of the child care profession, your role within our society
is one of high trust – there can be few greater responsibilities
than to look after another person’s child. This workshop is not
about having naked babies and giving massage on areas that are not appropriate
in a nursery/care work setting. It is about learning techniques which
are massage based, touch central, and for use over clothes if preferred,
or during a nappy change, for quiet time and as a learning tool.
Jay
Belsky, Professor of Psychology at the Institute for the Study of Children,
Families and Social Issues at the University of London, describes our
current childcare arrangements in western culture as ‘The Great
Experiment.’ In his research he draws our attention to the fact
that 30% of mothers/fathers stay at home to raise their children. The
other 70% return to work. The generation growing up in this new climate
are being cared for by yourselves during the working week.
With
this in mind I feel that we are duty bound to consider the quality of
nurturing touch children are given within child care settings. In my
experience I have only seen caring and nurturing touch at work in nurseries.
This course is not to tell you to do something that you are not already
doing. It is to praise and focus your attention on something that is
instinctive and important and can be developed as a real and conscious
skill. Part of nurturing touch can be through what is commonly known
as Baby Massage.
Baby
Massage, taught to a parent who learns with their baby, is common childcare
practice in most parts of the world. Obstetrician Frederick Leboyer
was an early pioneer in bringing baby massage to the west in the 1970s.
Vimala McClure also played an important role in bringing baby massage
to the west with her book ‘Infant Massage – A Handbook for
Loving Parents’ which details her routines, incorporating Swedish
strokes, reflexology and yoga, along with the Indian massage strokes,
many of which are the basis of baby massage routines taught across the
world.
My
aim in this course is to introduce you to various techniques that can
be employed within a nursery setting and give you the confidence to
begin to start to use them with the children and babies in your care.
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Prices for two hour workshop
::
£175 for up to 20 staff
:: £115 for up to 10 staff
This
includes a pre-delivery observation at the nursery which helps to ensure
the two hour workshop can be tailored to your setting and needs.
Free consultation and post-course support
is also provided within the price.
Recap and refresher visits can be organised for £85.
:: Each
member of staff receives a booklet and attendance certificate.
:: Phone contact is encouraged in the weeks after the course to help
support nursery staff as they try out techniques in situ.
:: Suggestions and support is provided for management seeking to maintain
use of massage techniques within their care setting.
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Tailored
courses
If
you need a course designed specifically for you and your staff please
feel free to get in touch to discuss your needs. I have extensive experience
in writing courses and accompanying course materials to a professional
standard and am confident in my delivery to various group sizes and
skill levels.
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