Our 'Action Stories' are based on a peer massage programme where the children are led through a set of massage strokes devised by the Massage in Schools Programme. Action Stories are an integral part of the Emotions for Learning (E4L) curriculum at Byron House and teachers and children have seen the benefits for over 10 years at ŷ’s. They aim to promote the well-being of young children in the knowledge that nurturing touch is a basic need and powerful tool to help children develop into healthy, well-balanced human beings.
“Massage has long been seen as a pleasure rather than a therapy that has long term effects. Touch is one of our basic needs. In early experiments, it has been noted that both people and animals develop very slowly and even die if they are denied touch. Today, many studies support the theory that touch is extremely important if the nervous system is to develop normally. Touch has nearly disappeared from our culture, and in its place medicine has become more and more instrumental.” Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg (physician and professor of physiology).
Action Stories involve paired children learning the MISP massage routine, through the clothes, on the back, arms, shoulders and head*.They always ask their partner’s permission before they begin and say ‘thank you’ at the end and they include additional imagery-based massage stories and activities intended to spark the children’s imagination and creativity. The programme encourages the children to share their learned massage skills with their family and friends and it develops positive, respectful communication through nurturing touch.
The benefits for children include: learning and experiencing saying ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to touch, a feeling of being individually acknowledged and received, increased levels of oxytocin – the feel good hormone, relaxation and reduction in stress levels, improved concentration levels, calmer classrooms, greater respect for peers and a stronger sense of self and self-esteem, overall increase in emotional health and well-being and greater social awareness. One T2 child explained, "When the classroom has the lights off and we take it in turns to carry out the action stories we all feel calm and relaxed and there is a silent positive feeling around the room. It makes you feel ready to focus on anything."
For more information on the Massage in Schools Association: and a link to a BBC programme entitled 'The Anatomy of Touch':
*Current changes to the normal routine include the activity lasting no more than 7 minutes and does not involve being near a child's face or breath. Children must always wash their hands before and after touching their partner and all strokes which touch exposed parts of the body to be omitted from the procedure.