Have questions about how massage can help your child with ADHD? Or intertested in teaching massage to aid chidren with ADHD? Tina Allen founder of leading children's health and nurturing touch organization Liddle Kidz Foundation, shares over ten years of expertise working with children & families and answers commonly asked questions related to ADHD/ADD and massage.
Copyright (c) 2013 Liddle Kidz Foundation Infant and Children's Pediatric Massage
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are biological, neurological conditions that have exploded onto the scene in the past ten years. The signs and symptoms typically appear before the age of seven, and are often difficult to distinguish between normal "kid behavior."
In the United States there are an estimated two to four percent of school age children with ADHD and fifty percent of them are on some form of prescription medication for treatment! With statistics like these, it's not a surprise that I receive many questions about the benefits of massage in these cases. I am answering the most commonly asked questions surrounding massage and ADD/ADHD but keep in mind every child is different and responds to massage in their own way.
Can massage actually help my ADD/ADHD child sleep better?
Yes it's very possible! Massage may not only help your child fall asleep quicker, sleep more soundly through the night but for a longer period as well. This will decrease hyperactivity and improve your child's behavior and mood. Studies show massage is likely to reduce sleep walking and children will then spend more time in a relaxed sleep throughout the night.
Can massage help my child sit and focus better?
It might just help! Research demonstrates that massage decreases increases mental focus and concentration. One specific study showed that students who received massage were more productive in class, and their teachers rated them less hyperactive.
Q. Will massage help with my child's mood?
A. Immediate improvement in children's mood and long-term behavior changes in the classroom were scene in recent studies of children who received a 20-minute massage twice a week.. Interestingly enough they also reported feeling happier than peers who participated in relaxation therapy program, as opposed to the massage sessions.
Q. I want to try massage but my child has a very such short attention span, what do you recommend?
A. Because children with ADHD have trouble sitting still for too long, they may tolerate shorter but more frequent massages. To produce benefits, studies recommend just two 20-minute massages a week.
Choosing massage to add to your child's routine may improve many different aspect of their life but most importantly it helps facilitate and strengthen the bond and communication between you and your child.!
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