Benefits for Heart, Body, and Mind: Massage Therapy for Children

New classrooms, busy schedules, emotional stress, social pressure - it’s no wonder children feel anxious or overwhelmed when the school year begins. These worries can turn into restless nights, tears at drop off, tummy aches, or even children just not seeming like themselves. Massage therapy is more than just relaxation; it helps the heart, body, and mind, allowing children’s well-being to thrive.

Happy Hearts

Children thrive when they feel secure and

onnected. Nurturing experiences like massage support children in overcoming social-emotional barriers to a successful day at school. Massage therapy creates happy hearts by:

• Boosting mood, confidence, and self-awareness

• Supporting strategies of self-regulation to reduce challenges with bedtime, drop-off, or transitions

• Strengthening the parent–child bond and sense of trust

• Increasing release of serotonin and dopamine, creating feelings of happiness and security

Rested Bodies

A healthy body sets the stage for a healthy mind. Built-up tension, lack of sleep, or increasing stress can all get in the way of a child's success at school. Massage allows for rested bodies by:

• Relieving muscle tension from backpacks, activities, long stretches of sitting, or stress

• Improving sleep quality for better mornings and increased learning

• Calming the nervous system, reducing cortisol (stress hormone) production

• Encouraging healthy development, aiding circulation, digestion, and the immune system

Calm Minds

When stress levels drop, children can think clearly and be engaged at school. Beyond physical benefits, massage therapy provides benefits to learning by:

• Reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of calm, even in new or overwhelming situations

• Improving focus and attention span, allowing children to be ready to learn

• Enhancing sensory regulation, creating tools for mindfulness and emotional regulation

• Promoting self-aw

  areness of how stress impacts their bodies and emotions

• Helping Kids Feel Their Best

Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean stress and struggle. Massage therapy offers a safe, gentle way to help children feel balanced, inside and out. A happy heart, rested body, and calm mind work together to set children up for success in the classroom and beyond.