massage in schools

[marymark]

I hope some of you can help. I have just found out about my d taking part in peer massage at school and have masses of questions that the massage in schools site doesn't address. Does anyone have any views or know where I can get info on:
-do/should parent have to give consent?
-can the objectives of the program be met in other ways?
-how is peer pressure to take part addressed if the whole class is involved as a directed activity?
-how are children taught to deal with adults asking to massage/be massaged?
-what are appropriate ages?

• does this change a childs perspective of their personal space, if so how? -how to start a genuine debate pro/con amongst parents at my d's school? Many thanks

My dd does this at school. Theirs is actually a massage class where a teacher comes in and teaches them different movements that they do on a partner's back (Y1). We weren't asked for parental consent, which I was a little surprised about, but when my dd demonstrated what she was learning on me, I could see that it was completely innocuous. It might be worth asking your dc for a massage!
As I can see it, it has helped the children in terms of gross motor control, sensitivity towards others, awareness of self (that relaxing can help us and how to help ourselves relax) and also has been fun!

Old thread here

One of the things that most concerns me that isn't addressed in the MISP site or in the old thread (thanks for that) is the potential it has to set the child up for abuse outside the school. I can appreciate that done properly in school etc it is happy/relaxing/safe but how are kids taught to deal with the potential for adults to say 'can I massage you/you massage me.. just like you do at school'? Also I am uncertain whether it sets up a peer pressure situation that the whole class is doing a very personal activity that a child may not feel comfortable with but doesn't feel they can withdraw from?