Story Massage strokes can enhance the benefits of nursery rhymes. And in this blog, we are offering a FREE booklet of 34 nursery rhymes adapted with Story Massage strokes to help share fun, creativity and communication at work and/or at home.
The Benefits of Nursery Rhymes
The booklet is our way of celebrating World Nursery Rhyme Week. Every year, thousands of Early Years educators around the world take part in a global initiative to promote the importance of nursery rhymes in early childhood development.
Whilst the initiative is intended for early years educators, we know how many people with dementia can benefit from the comfort and familiarity of nursery rhymes. And for some older learners with special educational needs and disabilities, nursery rhymes with Story Massage strokes are part of the sensory curriculum. The repetition of key words, for example, is an important way of encouraging anticipation and development of memory. Counting songs can help with numeracy skills. And the pattern of the rhymes encourages language and literacy skills.
The addition of Story Massage strokes to favourite rhymes further enhances social, physical, and emotional skills for all ages and abilities. If you want to try it for yourself, then enjoy the follow-along videos of popular nursery rhymes on our You Tube Channel.
Free Story Massage Booklet
World Nursery Rhyme Week runs every year in November. Each year, five nursery rhymes are chosen to be shared over five days. This year (13th – 17th November 2023) the rhymes are: Jack and Jill, Hickory Dickory Dock, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, Row Row Row Your Boat and Wheels on the Bus.
We’ve put together a booklet of 34 different nursery rhymes adapted with Story Massage strokes (first published in 2022) as part of our free resources for practitioners. It includes the five chosen rhymes for World Nursery Rhyme Week 2023 plus lots of favourites including: Wind the Bobbin Up, Old MacDonald Had a Farm and Little Peter Rabbit. Download your booklet here: FREE Nursery Rhyme Booklet for the Story Massage Programme.
World Nursery Rhyme Week 2023
World Nursery Rhyme Week was launched by Music Bugs in 2013. All downloadable resources for the initiative are free. To find our more, register your interest and download the free resources click here: WNRW 2023.
Would you like to train in the Story Massage Programme?
Would you like to learn more? Sign up for our Story Massage Online Course and help share the benefits with the children or adults in your care – at home or at work. Check here for the reviews from people who are using the programme at work and at home with adults and children of all ages and abilities: Five Star Feedback.
We teach you how to share the ten Story Massage strokes and work with you to adapt familiar stories and even create some sensory stories of your own. Ideal for all teachers, SEN staff, support staff, therapists, Early Years practitioners, those working with people with additional needs, Baby Massage Instructors, Relax Kids Coaches… everyone with an interest in sharing positive touch activities with children and adults of all ages and abilities.
