We love hearing from Story Massage Practitioners using the programme across the globe. This blog features Coco Chau’s work with visually impaired children in a public library in China.
Touch and Massage Story Time
Coco trained as a Story Massage Instructor on our flexible online course in January 2022. She has recently used her skills to develop her own successful project within the Guangzhou’s Children’s Library. Coco’s project, ‘Touch and Massage Story Time’, is designed to help visually impaired children aged 3-7 years with their reading.
“The project began in April 2025 and will last for two years,” explains Coco, “We have two activities each month. One is a Story Massage session and the other is a reading activity led by staff at the library. Each session has about 8-9 children attending, accompanied by their parents, grandparents or caregivers.”
Sensory Props for Visually Impaired Children
Many of the children are nearly blind with only a few having slight light perception. Coco and her team at the library in China have prepared 24 picture books, one for each month, which they have adapted using some of the ten Story Massage strokes. Each picture book is also complemented by multi-sensory props to help enhance engagement with the storyline for visually impaired children.
“For example, in Little Red Riding Hood Leaving the Forest there is focus on tactile experiences related to a forest”, says Coco, “These include tree bark, leaves and flowers allowing the children to imagine the forest scene through touch and smell. Other books include Riding a Dinosaur to the Library and The Wild Things.”
Library and Home Partnership
As part of the project, the library also offers workshops for parents, grandparents and caregivers to teach the learning objectives of each book, and share the benefits of positive touch. Coco has also crafted her own Story Massage story books for each child to take home to share with their families and friends.
Benefits of the Touch and Storytime Project
Coco says the main benefits for visually impaired children are relaxation and the opportunity to engage in books and stories which helps enrich language development. The children within the project have not yet learnt braille so the ‘Touch and Massage Story Time’ project helps them enjoy reading through touch whilst also relieving the stress and anxiety of parents. Coco says she hopes the project will also promote better communication between parents and children, making it easier to parents to understand and respond to their needs.
“I have been inspired and delighted by the creativity of the programme,” says Coco, “and this has led me to share it with children, those in need, and adults. I am very excited about helping children and their parents in such a positive way through his project.”
Please also look at our blog featuring the work of International China Concern using the Story Massage Programme with children and young people with disabilities in a variety of settings.
Would you like to train in the Story Massage Programme?
Are you inspired by Coco’s project with visually impaired children in a library in China? 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 all 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 of all ages and abilities.