Reflexology for infants and children

Touch is a unique yet extremely powerful form of silent communication.  When gentle pressure is administered to the feet or hands in a relaxed environment and non offensive way, in the form of reflexology, it can provide re-assurance, companionship and a feeling of self-worth, in addition to aiding the body’s natural self-healing process.

Children from a very young age are inquisitive by nature, they are constantly touching and feeling different mediums with their hands and adapting to a plethora of stimuli and textures when learning to walk barefoot.  Instead of exhibiting fear and apprehension, their natural sense of curiosity and willingness to develop their learning abilities leads them to watch all events that take place around them, until eventually they begin to mimic what they have seen or heard and make associations with specific occurrences.  In as much as it is a common reflex action to rub the knee of a small child who has just taken a tumble or to stroke their hair whilst reading them a bedtime story to induce a sense of calmness and relaxation, the touch of reflexology can bring with it many positive benefits, all of which will be able to be used throughout the adult years.

As the attention span of children is much smaller than that of their adult counterparts, short bite sized sessions are more suitable to develop, using a fun and often interactive platform to start with and gradually working up to longer and more structured sessions, once a sense of familiarity and happiness has been formed and associated with the techniques.

Regular applications can improve alertness, attention span and address ongoing hyperactivity and negative behavioral patterns, in addition to providing a solid platform for effective communication and integrative social activities.  When pressure in any form is applied to the bottom and top of the foot or the hands, the brain automatically becomes alert, due to the activation of millions of sensory receptors.  Likewise, when we stand in an upright position, every system in our bodies sets to work in order to ensure that our bones, muscles, nervous, endocrine, urinary, circulatory, immune and respiratory systems are adequately supported and fuelled, ready to activate the flight or fight response.

Children and infants in particular are highly responsive to reflexology treatments and specifically designed reflex therapies, due to their ongoing physical and mental development and even those who are confined to a seated or lying position have been reported to respond well to regular sessions.

Experienced Reflexologists have often spoken of the ability to obtain long-term responses to their tactile work and as such this therapy is often incorporated into programmes for children with special needs who require personalised care and tailor-made development plans in order to attain optimum results, in addition to those who thrive in a mainstream environment.

Not all children will take to reflexology and in such cases patience, dedication and perseverance is key, as with time, a step by step approach and the continual presence of this natural therapy in their lives, the benefits will eventually be embraced.