Massage classes at Sheffield school prompt complaints

[sallymonella]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-16592082

Why would anyone find the idea of children massaging each other, over clothes, inappropriate? Am I missing something?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-16592082

I don't quite know

Probably because people hear the word "massage" and think of "massage parlours" ie brothels. XP's grandparents were beyond scandalised that a woman on their street was offering massages as a home business (presumably of the relaxation/new age kind) because they had such a strong association with the "other kind" of massage business.

No idea why they would.

And it is quite lovely. Ds learnt to give fantastic massages, very handy.

I'd love them to learn it at DS's school, I think it's been proven to be very good for you hasn't it?

They're going to be discussing this on Radio 2 shortly. Should be interesting!

My dd's class learned peer massage in year one. At first I was a bit but it's actually lovely for them all. I don't know if they still do it now in year 3, but for littlies I think it's really beneficial, just another way they learn to be nice to each other imo.

not quite sure where the school is in Sheffield - is it near Attercliffe Road
(people from Sheffield will understand this post)

on a serious note, have they said why they think it inapropriate

mollymole - the mother quoted seems to think it is self-evident that it's 'inappropriate' for children to touch each other. Extraordinary. And very depressing.

Didn't finish my post there. I meant to add that my kids' school does peer massage in a way that is really thoughtful about the nature of touch for kids. When it was introduced, one teacher told me that one aspect of the thinking behind it is that little kids do actually touch each other all the time, and that some children find that difficult, in all sorts of ways and for all sorts of reasons. And some kids have of course had experiences of genuinely inappropriate touching. So part of the point of peer massage is to give children an opportunity to experience positive touching in a controlled, purposeful situation. They do, at our school, have the opportunity to opt out, if they really don't want to touch or be touched.

Sheffield mum here, although this is not at my children's school. This was also the story of the day on bbc radio Sheffield yesterday, I think it's a great idea, hope they role it out across all Sheffield school. My dds have learnt massage from my aunt and they are actually really good at it.

Some of the comments on the radio yesterday shocked me, one parent linked this to early sex education in schools! And the words disgusting and inapropriate touching were used. These are 5 and 6 year olds gently rubbing each others shoulders.

I think that's because few people can actually imagine 'touching' someone wo having an erotic side to it.
Hence the fact that people offering massage (like sport massage that can b** hurt!) are on the receiving end of very strange requests.

Which, imo, is another reason why this is a vey good idea. Because it teaches children the difference between different type of touch, what is acceptable or not and that people have the right not to want to be touched either. It might even come handy when they are teenagers...

campergirls it is very sad isn't it? I wonder what has gone on these parents life's for them to think that young children gently touching each others arms and shoulders in inappropriate (and yet beating each other up in the playground is ok, or at least natural)?

Oh my god, is anyone listening to this on radio 2? The Scottish woman on now is basically saying that massage leads to sex!

:(

my kids' school does this all the way through to year 6 and they all love it - there are just 2 kids who opt out of it and this causes them no issues and they are still part of the class in all other activities so does not alienate them. My kisd have always commented on how calm it makes the class when they are all giddy from some thing such as games or playtime..

And the benefit of kids able to give your shoulders a good massage should not be overlooked!