I spoke with a retired school teacher yesterday. I mentioned the behavior that my 5 yr old has in school of his oppositional defianance. The suggestion was after the morning shower to have them dry off, put on underwear then lay them down and rub lotion on their back and legs. Basically giving a little massage therapy. Thoughts were it would help release the calming endorphines in the brain.
In my pea sized brain it made sense. Have any of you all out there heard of this??
Thank you so very much for your contributions. Friday was the 1st morning I tried it. His teacher said, "He was good today. The best he has been in a long time. :)".
Saturday and Sunday morning I did not do it, and he seemed more irriatable. I am curious how the rest of this week goes, as I would like to continue this process.
This morning he goes mom this is so relaxing!
Willing to try anything!! :)
I have not. But if someone did that to ME, I would definitely be a happier mom, wife, coworker, etc.
However, it definitely does make sense.
Sometimes they will have you put a weighted vest on them or use swimming as a type of therapy. It sends all kinds of messages to their little system. I think it sounds like a wonderful idea.
It couldn't hurt with calming/bonding and such, massage therapy does wonders, but I doubt it would be an end to all the problems, especially in school, b/c calming techniques only last so long ever day after it is done.But starting the day off great it could really help with that. Is the defiance only at school? Is it typical childhood defiance, or the disorder? My sibling had was diagnosed with odd (oppositional defiance disorder) and it was an extremely difficult disorder to deal with that requires fairly intense professional therapy depending on the severity.
*I also just posted an answer to your last question about the screaming in the ear incident.
I do this with my ADHD kiddo all the time.
It's a sensory trick for pulling in focus.
Haven't "heard" of this, per say...but I do it!! When my kids are cranky or sick I will have them hop in a warm shower and then lotion/massage them up when they get out.
Think of how nice you feel after a massage? I bet they feel just as good!
L.
Yes. Massage and "brush therapy" (using a special soft-bristled brush to brush the child's skin in certain ways) are absolutely legitimate therapeutic things to do. If your son has diagnosed oppositional defiance and is getting treatment for it, please talk to his doctor (or therapist or occupational therapist, whoever it is he sees) about this and other similar things. Rather than trying to come up with how to do it on your own, get specific ideas from a professional. These things really can help calm a child and the effects can last for quite a while, I hear.
My friend's son doesn't have oppositional defiance but he does have attentiveness issues and she uses massage to calm him and help him focus. He also has a special "stretch sack" -- a huge bag made of very stretchy special fabric. He steps into it and pushes out against the fabric with his arms and legs and head and it really does help his mental mood an calms him physically too. It sounds wild but it was what an occupational therapist recommended. If your son isn't seeing an OT, you might ask his doctor and/or therapist/counselor if he should see one for these more physically based interventions. Not sure if it would apply to him. But it might help him burn off some of his frustrations.
Line me up....;)
Have not specifically heard of this...but sure is worth a try to connect with your child and focus on them this way. You'll have to let us know how it worked.
I haven't heard about it, but I do that with my 2 and 5 year olds before bedtime to calm them down and help them switch from "day time behavior" to "night time behavior". Not very long, just sort of calming down and remoisturizing, then letting them pick out pjs.....after bathing and a massage, they are easy to read a story to and then lights out. I bet it's good for a quick fix and to refocus or recenter.
There is a scrub brushing technique similar to this that I learned while working in an early childhood program. An occupational therapist trained in sensory integration can show you how to do it. It is very effective. So go ahead and the massage and see if it helps then you can check into the other.
It sounds like a reasonable thing to try. Skin to skin contact was strongly recommended when I had my baby in the NICU (studies show it helps babies grow and thrive better). As long as your son likes it I may help and it is unlikely to hurt or have side effects.
That's one of those things that absolutley can not hurt to try!
I tend to be a little leery of some of the "Natural" and "herbal" stuff-- if it's powerful enough to work, it's powerful enough to have side effects, but that's not the case here!
Yes, sounds similar to the "brush therapy" anothe poster described that was prescribed by my son's occupational therapist for his sensory issues. The grandparents thought we were nuts. Massage is also recommended for colicky babies.
absolutely! Touch helps form positive and healthy attachment. Healthy attachment can help diminish ODD. Good luck!
I don't know anything about it, but the way I see it is it can't do any harm. Give it a try.
Who wouldn't benefit from that?
Never heard of it but it sounds like something that is easily accomplished and worth a try?!
This is very common in many types of OT and PT for children with a wide variety of challenges. It is a soothing and/or containing technique.
The human touch can be very powerful.
:)
I work for a blind school with disabled children and the teachers greet the students with song and then put lotion on the children, it probably relaxes them and letting them know that someone is there, and as someone else said helps bond with people.
