For the record, it is not Tickle Therapy! The old adage, ‘experience teaches wisdom’ led us to create a Spa Day/Massage program for children. Our work with hundreds of vulnerable children and their caregivers, revealed that children experience a lot of stress and some muscle soreness as well.

We wanted to give them a fun and relaxing way to calm down, perk up and chill out – not in any particular order.  The facials instantly render the most energetic child into a sappy, sleepy and relaxed state. Our massage guns, on the other hand, had varied effects on the children. 

Looking back at the introduction of the massage guns to the children, their initial reactions were priceless. At first, nervous trepidation to outright refusals to participate. “I am not doing it, one child said.” “It is going to hurt, ” said another.” There seemed to be a consensus among the other children that our massage program was a form of punishment.

Who would like to go first, I asked? “Me; a little voice said, I am not afraid.” As the massager connected with her shoulders, she tried to maintain her composure to show the other children just how brave she was. She snickered and wriggled, trying to escape the tickle, while trying to predict where the gun would touch next.

All bets were off as the massager slid to her side and to the bottom of her feet. She tried to hide her laughter, but it was impossible for her to resist the feeling. She laughed uncontrollably and ran in retreat. “My entire body was vibrating,” she said. I thought I was going to burst.” With that, the other children tussled to be next in line. Some were tickled into submission or into playful resistance, while others were rendered comatose. 

“That was the best tickle ever, one child said.” We tried to explain that massages offer significant benefits for children such as helping to reduce stress, relaxing their muscles, and improving sleep. They were not meant to be ticklish. They strongly disagreed and dubbed our massage program Tickle Therapy. Our massage program has a similar effect on their caregivers as well, so I guess it is Tickle Therapy after all.