A newborn receives its equivalent of a massage from head to foot during delivery from the mother’s womb down the birth canal. From birth on, various forms of touch, from gentle stroking to firmer kneading, may be practiced in the art of massage to further the well being and development of the child.
Movement and touch are an infant’s primary means of self-expression and communication. For the first 18 months of life, a child is extremely body-oriented as it learns to touch, hold, sit, crawl, stand and walk. This time of development can be nurtured by providing a sense of physical and emotional security, while teaching the child to maintain a relaxed and flexible well-oriented body. Infant massage and motion exercises are both therapeutic forms of play oriented towards securing health and fitness through relaxation and movement while maintaining the child’s incredible range of motion.
