Massaging Children

[JerseyGirl]

Just wanted to know what your policies are regarding massaging children. Do you ask a parent to stay in the room? If so, at what age do you massage the child without a parent present?I am getting more and more outcalls where I massage the whole family. This is a tourist destination, so I don't personally know any of them. I'm always honored to work on children, it's usually their first massage and they melt like magic. I just want to avoid any possibility of a problem.Thank you,Sally

 

[SnowWebster2]

In school we had an infant/child massage day to show us how to massage infants and children.  I would recommend having the parent present if this is there first massage.  This puts ease for the child, parent, and you.  After that, its really up to the parents and child wither or not they are comfortable to be massage alone. Massaging children is really no different then massing adults.  You just use lighter strokes and a shorter amount of time.  Kids won't sit still for long massages.  You will be lucky to get them to sit for 20 min.  For infants, you should show the parents how to massage their baby and for when they are at home.  This helps parents bond more with their baby, helps baby with sleep, and colic. In school they also recommend using aromatherapy to help with babies sleep.  Use a very small amount of lavender in the room where you plan on massaging the infant. (candle is best) The baby will respond to the smell and remember that this is the time to relax and bond with mom or dad.  The room should be dim and quite. It may take a time or two for the baby to respond to massage.I hope this helps!  

 

[Carolyn]

Massaging Children

I do not massage a minor unless a parent or guardian is present. That goes for ANYONE under 18. Being a male therapist, it's within my best interest to NOT be in a closed, dark room alone with a minor, neither male nor female. Just one person making a false claim would ruin my career, possibly having me filed as a registered sex offender, and would make me the Michael Jackson of massage. Everyone thinks he's guilty because everyone trusts children. I don't want the same happening to me.

 

[cool_is_sexy]

Seforum.xxx,Good point.  You really can't be too carefull being male or female.  You never know these days.  This world is too crazy!

 

[knittinmama]

Massaging Children

When I volunteer at a local hospital to do warmup in-bed or chair massages in the children's ward, the door is open. I'm naive I suppose and always try to think the best of people, but you're probably right, Seforum.xxxg. Err on the side of caution.

 

[maggie.]

in school ages of 7-13 had to have the parent in the room with you.  14-17 the parent did not have to be in the room with you but had to be in the clinic at all times.  i worked on an 11yr who's mom came to the clinic a few times and wanted her son to experience it and he loved said he was ready for bedtime.  I also worked on a 16 kid who came w/both parents and all 3 were coming in for massages so they were fine with him getting a massage w/o them being in the room.  now that i'm out of school and working in an office, i've worked on 4 kids 16 yr old girl, 16 yr old boy, 11 yr old body and 12 yr old girl.  all of their parents are regular clients of the office and the parents are the ones that schedule them.  the 16 yrs old drove themselves to the office so there were no parents.  the 11 yr old his mom was there in the office but did not go in the room (i've worked on before) he made honor roll and this was his gift, nice gift! and the 12 yr old girl came into the office by herself, her mom dropped her off and picked her up but never came into the office.  but both her parents and aunt are regular clients.  I asked the owner about working on kids and she said she's never had a problem and has only had kids whose parents were regular clients.  and all of these kids had files before i worked on them so they've been clients of the office.  so i guess that made me feel better, but if i get a kid who is not a client nor their parents, i would ask them to stay.  also on the kids intake forms, all parents have signed the form.  

 

[Skidoo]

Massaging Children

they were fine with him getting a massage w/o them being in the room.

I had 2 minors come in about 2 weeks ago, and the parent said they were fine with not being in the room. To me though, it's not up to the parent, it's a personal decision. I told them that either the parent is in the room at all times, or I massage the person with their clothes on and the door open. One of the girls, 16-year-old, chose that option, so I basically gave her a chair massage, only on a table with the office door open and the lights on. Some people are just stubborn I guess, lol.

BTW, the other girl opted for her mum to be in the room.

 

[BEAUTY QUEEN]

I agree with Seforum.xxxgnant.... "I do not massage a minor unless a parent or guardian is present. That goes for ANYONE under 18."I am a female therapist and hold firm to the above.  Many times at the spa I work at I have been schedule with a minor and on most occasions, after explaining my concerns to management and then parents, I have been able to do the massage in the couples room with the parent present (who was also getting a massage).  On the occasions that the minor or parent refused, I also refused to do the service and they were able to get their nails done or a facial.I feel that our American society is very litigious and our children are over sexualized.... a bad combo that I avoid by requiring parents to be a part of the massage session.

 

[Meshuggah]

the parents who said they didn't mind there son was in the room w/o them, both of them were getting massages as well.   that was thru school.

 

[frankiegrease d]

Massaging Children

A guy that went to my school(before me) was accused of improperly touching a sixteen year old girl. He said that was completely false. Whose to know, only she and he were in the room. Long story short, he was fired, lost his license, wife left him, and then he hung himself in his garage. My teachers said he was the nicest guy ever and could never imagine that happening. I actually massaged the mother and father before learning all this(my teacher thought she should tell me because the family was sue crazy). The family was bizarre. After learning all this I refused to even massage them. The bottom line is this. If you ever get accused of doing anything to a minor, for the rest of your life you are a registered sex offender and would have to go around your nieghborhood and let people know, not to mention never massaging again. You may have the best intentions in the world or even the parents ok, but to me, its not worth it. You either need to have the parent or another therapist present. This is the way I was taught in school and even if I wasn't, its just god sense.

 

[Kool Shelby]

This is a great topic.   I am learning that I am too lax when working on children.  Normally they are the children of my regular clients, so I felt that the trust was already there.  Sometimes the parent is present, sometimes the sibling, sometimes no one.  As long as the parent agrees to the massage that was all I needed.  I have never worried about someone being present.We didn't discuss any policies in school with regards to working on children.  Times were a little different then.  It is a shame things are this way now.  I will need to be more careful when dealing with children.  Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Greatkate,That is so sad to hear about the guy you knew.   How distraught he must have been.          

 

[Khawanah]

I actually never knew him, he graduated befor I started. I wonder if that is why my school was so "prudish". We never learned the glutes unless over the sheet, wich is wierd to me now that I have been working awhile and also they were VERY strict about NEVER going under the drape, which I actually feel is a good poilcy even though sometimes it happens.  Its sad that we have to worry about things of this nature when we are in a profession geared towards making people feel better. But thats life. People can be crazy on both sides of the fence, clients or even MT's. I prefer to err on the side of caution. I am sure that there are plenty of other MT's that will massage children if I dont.  I actually got into it with a chiro i worked for once that told me not to be rediculous and just do it, but I stuck to my guns.

 

[Bubbl3z]

working with children

I'm in agreement with those who don't work on children (under 18) unless the parent (or guardian) is in the room.

Most recent experience --- a referral from the pediatrician who works with DSS..... a 4 year old with history of abuse, now living at the children's home, sore neck and shoulders..... nothing broken, etc.

She was a delight! A normal wiggly, bouncy little one, and her social worker was in the room with us the whole time. She had a strongly developed "flinch" response to any touch ---- probably from being hit by parents. Her muscles melted once she allowed my hand in position to stay for a bit. I hope her defensive postures will lessen now that she's in a safer environment.

What an honor to do this work!
Linda B in NC

 

[Che M]

working on children

Obviously that smiley was supposed to be an 8....
no working on folks under 18 without parent or guardian. YIKES, I must really need another cup of coffe this morning!

Linda B in NC