Combining yoga and movement with the Story Massage Programme helps increase engagement and participation in stories and poems. Ashleigh Paddon, a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and Complementary Therapist at The Therapy Tree (Devon) Ltd, talks about her work with children with severe and complex needs.
How can you share positive, nurturing touch for children with tactile sensitivity? We talk to Helen Wyszynski about the benefits of the Story Massage Programme for her 10 year old son, Raphael, who has high functioning autism and sensory processing difficulties.
How can you make a story meaningful for a non-verbal child? Jen Helmbolt, an ASN primary teacher and freelance Regional Makaton tutor at Makaton Marvels explains how she enables communication and engagement through sharing sensory stories on a resonance board.
Are you looking at new ideas for In-House Training? Find out how Beatlie School Campus, a community special needs school in West Lothian, worked with our flexible online course to offer training to 21 members of staff.
Beatlie School Campus is open to boys and girls aged 3-18 with a wide range of SEND including physical disabilities and sensory impairments. The programme is so widely enjoyed across the whole school that it is now a Centre of Excellence. Continue reading
Is the Chinese New Year 2021 one of your school topics? Here are two follow-along massage stories on a Chinese New Year theme as extra resources for you. These stories are fun and fully inclusive – so do join in and learn a little bit more about Chinese traditions and an ancient myth. You can watch the videos and download the massage stories to enjoy together – at home or at work.
This simple massage story describes some of the traditions associated with the Chinese New Year through the eyes of a young girl called Ming. Why does everyone wear red? And why is the sky alight with fireworks and firecrackers?
You can download a copy of the words of the story accompanied by the Story Massage strokes here: Chinese New Year Massage Story
The Chinese Zodiac is a cycle of 12 years – each one with the name of the animal. 2021 is the Year of the Ox. This massage story explains the ancient myth of the swimming race that decided which animal would be included in the Zodiac and their order.
You can download a copy of the words of the story accompanied by the Story Massage massage strokes here: The Chinese Zodiac Swimming Race
The Story Massage Programme combines the benefits of positive, respectful touch with the creativity and engagement of storytelling. Ten simple massage strokes form the basis of the programme. These strokes have a name, such as The Circle or The Sprinkle, and an easy to recognise symbol. It is a fully inclusive activity, no clothing is removed and no oil is used.
Are you inspired by these sensory stories? Would you like to learn more? Sign up for our Story Massage Online Course and help share the benefits with the children or adults in your care – at home or at work.
We teach you how to share the ten Story Massage strokes and work with you to adapt familiar stories and even create some sensory stories of your own. Ideal for teachers, SEN staff, support staff, therapists, Early Years practitioners, those working with people with additional needs, Baby Massage Instructors, Relax Kids Coaches… everyone with an interest in sharing positive touch activities with children and adults.
“The Story Massage Programme resources are brilliant for home learning. Just look at this happy face as big brother massages his little brother! The P2s are now Story Massage experts as they have been practising on Seesaw too.” Jennifer Monteith, Nurture Teacher, Thorntree Primary School
Five year old Ben Sheils has been awarded our prestigious Junior Best Practice Award for his support and enthusiasm for the Story Massage Programme, especially over lockdown. Ben’s beautiful drawings (see below) have brought colour and vitality to our massage stories. And Ben’s artwork has encouraged others to extend the sensory experience with their own drawings and paintings. Thank you, Ben. Many congratulations.
We love this Five Star review for our Story Massage book Once upon a touch… story massage for children from Rosie, aged 5, the junior assistant at Small Minds Big Imaginations.
It’s the final day of World Nursery Rhyme Week 2020, and our featured nursery rhyme today is Miss Polly Had A Dolly.
As part of World Nursery Rhyme Week 2020, we are bringing you daily videos and downloads of the five nursery rhymes celebrated during the week. This blog features Old MacDonald Had A Farm.
“The Story Massage Programme resources are brilliant for home learning. Just look at this happy face as big brother massages his little brother! The P2s are now Story Massage experts as they have been practising on Seesaw too.” Jennifer Monteith, Nurture Teacher, Thorntree Primary School
