This is an amazing little massage activity that we use in our classes and play sessions.

It is such a good way of giving your little one lots of sensory input from their skin (tactile input), helps awareness of where their body is in space using the pressure and stretch receptors in their muscle and joints (proprioceptive sensory input), helps their internal body map, while simultaneously giving information through the right and left sides of the body which is amazing for developing communication between both sides of the brain. This is a lovely brain boosting activity!

It is so easy to do, just get down on the floor beside your little one, you can do it while they are sitting or lying, on their fronts or on their backs. You can do little bits of it while they are sitting next to you, I used to do when she was sitting or lying next to me on the couch, please don’t do it on a table like I’m doing it (it was just easiest for recording the video!). Do it when your little one is relaxed and calm.

So, the video above  is a little video of my hands doing the massage, basically you give 4 sets of rubs and taps to each area of the body – feet, knees, hips, tummy, shoulders, hands and above their hairline. I like to do it to music (yellow submarine or lion sleeps tonight works well as you can keep time to the beat).

Have fun and I’d love to hear how you get on!