Mia Elmsater - Massage in Schools

In this presentation, you'll find out about the importance of touch for children and hear about the groundbreaking Massage In Schools Program that is currently in over 1,000 schools in the UK and 18 countries worldwide. The mission of the Massage in Schools Programme is to provide high quality and professional training to all teachers and caring adults willing to bring nurturing touch into schools. Find out how you can get involved in helping every child attending school experience positive and nurturing touch every day...everywhere in the world.

Mia trained in Montessori education for day care children in 1984. She became a qualified Infant Massage Instructor with the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) in 1986. Mia is a member of the IAIM Educational Committee and has served on the boards both internationally and in Sweden. Mia created and co-created several massage and touch programs, including "Tactile Stimulation" for children and adults with special needs, "Touch Therapy" used in nursing homes, "Child Massage" used in day care centres and "Massage in Schools" for children of school ages. Mia has done volunteer work in neonatal units in Sweden, supporting parents and helping them to bond with their baby. She has created two videos, one for infant massage and the other for massage for infants, children and adults with special needs. Mia has combined her experience, together her colleague Sylvie Hetu, to create the "Massage in Schools Programme" and introduced it into the UK in 1999.