Scots pupils get massage lessons to combat stress

SCOTTISH children as young as four are being taught relaxation and massage techniques to help them combat stress and anxiety.

A complementary therapist has been brought in to primary schools in the Scottish Borders to give lessons on to how to relax and remain calm.

Pupils are taught a range of massage techniques, all of which are performed full-clothed and sitting in chairs.

Julie Hamilton, who has been leading the classes, said the aim was to teach long-term skills.

"The reason for bringing the Massage in Schools Programme to the Borders is one of when you look ahead to people in adult life, the stresses that they currently have, a lot of people haven't learned in school or early in life, how to deal with that stress," she said. "It (stress management] is something that is terribly important to learn as a skill - so this is something I'm teaching to these children that they will able to use as a life skill."

She said that by teaching at a young age, the skills become a habit and something that can be used easily in various situations.

First introduced in Scotland in 2002, the Massage in Schools Programme is an internationally-practised scheme, developed by Mia Elmsater from Sweden and Sylvie Hetu from Canada.

• Child's play

In Scotland, where the scheme was introduced in 2002, classes are paid for through individual school parent councils, rather than any council funds.

The 48-year-old from Ancrum near Jedburgh, who set up her business Complementary Therapies this year with help from Business Gateway, Scottish Borders, branched out into school-based therapy earlier this year.

Ms Hamilton said that the classes had had a measurable effect: "The response has been amazing. The children really love learning the simple massage routines and teachers have noticed a positive change in pupil behaviour, children are more relaxed and focused after a session.

"They are also learning respect for one another when they are doing the programme, it's a very big part of it, that they always have to ask if it is OK to do a massage with one another and to say thank you after it - it's a social skill that they are gaining."

In addition to massage, pupils are also given guided relaxation classes, focusing on breathing exercises and stress-reduction through visualisation.

Ms Hamilton said that the scheme addressed the aims of the new Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland's schools and helped educational establishments achieve health-promoting schools status.

She added that the programme was only introduced through the say-so of pupils, and that they had to get parental permission to take part in it.

However, Neil Shah, director of the Stress Management Society said that while he was not against the teaching of stress relieving techniques as life-skills, he had concerns about very young children learning them.

"If massage is being taught to them as a life skill, then that potentially could be a beneficial strategy.But it depends how old the child is. If they are four or five years old, then that may too much and too young.". shouldn't even really be worried about stress, they should just be enjoying being a child and then you get to a stage later on, when these skills will come in handy.

"I would want them to enjoy their childhood. A lot of children are having their childhood taken away from them because they're being asked to grow up too quickly. That in itself can cause emotional problems later in life."

He added that fears about child safety meant that children were not getting enough physical activity and that this pent-up energy was being expressed though stress-like symptoms.

Mr Shah added that he believed that children should not be even be introduced to the concept of stress, but instead be encouraged to be involved in activities that prevent them building up the hormones associated with it.

Ms Hamilton said that it was right for schools to have access to the programme. "It's a matter of choice," she added. "It's important for it to be available and if the school think it would benefit then they can try it. They're not signing up to a huge thing, they can try it for one class and see how it goes."