Free Swampscott class offers toddler massage tips

SWAMPSCOTT – With no job, all meals taken care of and regular nap and play time, it may be hard to believe that a toddler is stressed out. But Stephanie Moriarty said there?s a lot going on inside the body and mind of a 2-year-old that could be building a lot of tension, and just like for adults, a way to alleviate that stress is with a regular massage.At that age, learning how to speak and move around in the world can be a tension-building experience, Moriarty explained, and a massage can be a way for parent and child to decompress together.Moriarty is passing on her knowledge as a licensed massage therapist to parents of toddlers in her four-week free class at the Swampscott Public Library. Parents come with tots in tow to learn techniques on how to give rubdowns to relax their children, a routine that Moriarty said could teach children how to manage stress throughout their lives.?It?s important for parents and children to have quiet time and deal with stress at the end of the day,” she said.Moriarty said regular massage between parents and children can strengthen their bond through touch, and giving massages can actually help the parents relax and become more aware of their own stress and tension that may need alleviating. For the toddler, a massage can stimulate developing muscles and relieve stomach problems like gas and indigestion that can come from an ever-growing exposure to new foods.Moriarty?s Friday morning class isn?t your typical Swedish massage. Toddlers crawl freely and make use of the trucks, blocks and stuffed animals in the pile Moriarty sets on the floor, then quickly become rapt with attention as she begins to sing with coordinated gestures and facial expressions to child favorites like “Wheels on the Bus.”It may seem more preschool than Zen experience, but Moriarty said the songs and gestures are key because toddlers need to engage all the senses to absorb the benefits of the massage, and keeping it light and fun is relaxing for young minds.Moriarty doesn?t require parents to actually massage their children in the class, and provides the option of practicing on a doll. In the recent class, she focused on chest and arms massage, teaching parents how to use long, sweeping strokes with a firm grip, rather than focused pressure.Moriarty said most parents already incorporate daily massage without knowing it by giving their kids a rub during bath time or when applying sunscreen at the beach, but adding singing can elevate the experience for the child.For example, two boys listened with rapt attention as Moriarty sang a tune to them.The song? “If You?re Happy and You Know It.”