MOVEMENTS IN TOUCH FOR PARENT-CHILD PAIRS

From the MOVEMENTS IN TOUCH Series

GILAD NAaMAN Perry

MOVEMENTS IN TOUCH FOR PARENT-CHILD PAIRS

This book would not have been possible without the help and support of my family and friends.
Consultants: Malca Feldstain, Developmental Physiotherapist; Adi Rodan, Therapist in Movement Art Direction, Design and Production: Rachel Avidor (3rd Edition) Cover Photography: Tal Gluck Photography: Kai Von Rabenau 3rd Edition edited by Just Words Finished Art and Pre-Press: Sarit Cohen-A. and Ora Schottig Participants: Orit and Guya Katzir, Anat and Erez Or, Sarit and Elad Ravitz, Sharon and Ronny Sufnic, Inbal and Gilad Zakar, and Gilad Naaman Perry All rights reserved. This book is under copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher and author. Infringers of copyright render themselves liable to prosecution. All rights reserved to Gilad Naaman Perry, Cammon, 20112, Israel Printed in Jerusalem, 3rd Edition, 2009 Information regarding this book or TnuAd lectures and workshops please contact Gilad Naaman Perry at: Tel: +972 52 477 2052, info@tnuad.com

MOVEMENTS IN TOUCH

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The book, MOVEMENTS IN TOUCH FOR PARENT-CHILD PAIRS, insightfully leads parents and their baby on a journey of movement and touch. The photos and words, which attract both the eye and the heart, clearly and simply present the writers main ideas, turning this book into a useful tool for the family. In todays busy, hectic lifestyle there should be room for pause and quality time in the family in which we center attention on our bodys real needs and on those who are close to us. I warmly recommend adopting the advice and recommendations expressed in this book as life habits. Dr. Hagit Shkedi, Infant Movement Specialist A fetus in the womb moves with its mothers body rhythm and feels her movement and hears her heartbeat. This beautiful book is a reminder and provides us with opportunities to reconnect with our intuition and nurturing impulses through touch and movement and close physical contact with our babies and children. It cherishes our most basic instinct and provides us with tools for nurturing our world. Ilana Shemesh, Homebirth Midwife, and Author of Homebirth The book, MOVEMENTS IN TOUCH FOR PARENT-CHILD PAIRS, expresses through wonderfully descriptive photos and simple and concise wording, the true meaning of parentchild interaction in early childhood. The book successfully emphasizes the integration of physical form and sensual experiences as a basis for the developmental process. The writer successfully transforms the experience of combined human activity between parent and baby into a calm, relaxed and joyful atmosphere encouraging a baby-parent relationship rich in giving and receiving. Dr. Segal Kooperschmidt and Dr. Selya Kozakov, Pediatricians

A Personal Note Dear Reader, Our language is rich in expressions relating to touch and intimacy: we are very close, you touch my heart, how touching, and more. For the newborn, closeness and touch are vital to his or her survival. The symbiotic relationship between the sensual phylum and the motional phylum forms the basis of a babys sense of security, curiosity, learning, experiences and pleasure. This book came to light out of my desire to share my personal encounters as a father who nurtured his babies through their first years of life. During this period I experienced and shared with my infants a special intimacy filled with daily excitement and joy. The movements described in this book are sure to inspire both parents, and I suspect that mothers will find this book particularly useful in enhancing sensual experiences, closeness and contact with their babies. Our fast-paced and often hectic lifestyle leaves us very limited free time for shared activities with our children that build stronger family bonds and meaningful experiences. Drawing from my extensive workshop experience I believe that there is nothing more important than mutual activity and intimacy between parent and child. In my first book, MOVEMENTS IN TOUCH FOR COUPLES & FAMILIES, I discussed the essence and benefits of touch, intimacy, movement and communication within a couples relationship connections that can be built and are impossible to buy. The book, MOVEMENTS IN TOUCH FOR PARENTCHILD PAIRS, presents a wide variety of movements that are aimed at providing parents and their babies with pleasant physical sensations and development, improved breathing and posture, relief of pain and tension, joy and laughter, bonding opportunities as well as a sense of overall well being and serenity. Another objective of this book is to encourage mothers to pause and rest during the day with movements designed to renew their sense of self. Many of these movements also guide women on their personal quests to restoring their pre-birth fitness and figure. I believe that by purposefully and spontaneously performing these movements and activities, not only do physical and emotional well-being of both parents and baby improve, a fortified platform forms within the nuclear family which in turn, directly reflects on the positive physical and mental development of the child. I wish all of you enjoyable, pleasant and relaxing experiences. All my best,

Gilad Naaman Perry

Introduction

Rather than providing answers, this book directs us to raising essential questions, exposing our thoughts and exploring our feelings.
MOVEMENTS IN TOUCH FOR PARENT-CHILD PAIRS provides you, the parents, with a wide variety of communicative techniques with your baby in his or her formative years, using two basic components which are as ancient as time - movement and touch.

This dialogue of warmth and love has, as we are about to see, a significant influence on the positive development of the child and his or her self-image. Furthermore, this combined experience of movement and touch provides quality shared time of pleasure, enjoyment and fun. The book deals with three areas: the first and primary parent-baby bonding; the second is personal well being through individual activity; the third area explores intimacy and relationships to deepen connections between partners. Throughout all its parts, the book emphasizes the importance of slow and continuous processes of listening, receiving and giving, relaxation, laughter and release of daily physical stresses. Rather than providing answers, this book directs us to raising essential questions, exposing our thoughts and exploring our feelings. To my mind this is the beauty of humanity our inborn instinct to seek closeness, to discover our emotions, to improve our connections with others and ourselves stimulated through basic concepts of touch and movement. This book guides us on personal and shared journeys that recreate these basic experiences for us. The significance of touch It was a touching experience, you touched my soul, and magic touch are sayings that express the significance of touch in human life. From the moment they draw their first breath, babies are in constant need of touch just as they are regular feedings. Nursing provides both of these vital components in a babys life and can be thought of as the cornerstone for intimacy with his or her mother. Research conducted in orphanages in Post World War II showed that babies died due to lack of TLC (tender loving care) despite being fed on time. Other research conducted on children and adults showed a correlation between the level of violence emerging in their adulthood to the level of warmth and touch that they were exposed to during childhood. A mothers touch and intimacy with her baby releases certain chemicals in the babys brain which are responsible for the sound development of the central nervous system. Some researchers maintain that touch and contact between mother and baby act as a replacement of the amniotic fluid in the womb during the pregnancy period.

The meaning of movement Movement is a life necessity and is as essential as food, sleep, and touch. Every act of movement has a direct effect on the part of the brain that receives information. As our nervous system develops, we are able to use this information to further our knowledge of the world and to recognize details in our surroundings. Sensual experiences shape our sense of perception and influence the way we think and learn. Natural curiosity, a congenital phenomenon in babies used as a primal learning foundation, needs constant adult stimulation for advancement and continued development. Shortage of stimulation reduces curiosity, may negatively affect the babys development, and can lead to apathy and lack of interest to their surroundings. On the other hand, the formation of a symbiotic relationship between the sensual phylum and the motional phylum teaches the child how to gradually gather knowledge about their environment initially about their immediate surroundings and parents, and later about their more distant and estranged circles - the wider world. Caregivers, and first and foremost parents, play a major role in the enrichment of a childs experience and activity, especially where they are not able to do it themselves. This involvement must be carried out with sensitivity and in harmony with the childs development, behavior and needs. Movement plays a significant part in the shaping of our self image, and the image we have of our body is highly important. Correct utilization of movement and activity creates a positive body image. This in turn, enhances our desire to increase action. Hence, the affinity between the two is mutual and direct. The development of a positive self image is extremely important in childhood and adolescence because this is the period that shapes an adults personality. The meaning of parent-baby dialogue in the developmental process The sensual and intimate dialogue between baby and parent creates an essential foundation for their positive development. A quick, satisfactory and agreeable parental response to a babys needs strengthens the sense of belonging and trust in his or her environment and in themselves. This dynamic communication, in which the baby reacts to a certain sensual stimulation (hunger, sound, light, touch and movement) and immediately gets a parental response, can be compared to a synchronized dance between two skilled dancers; like dancing, it requires constant coordination. This book presents a variety of enjoyable bonding activities to deepen further this parent-baby dialogue, enriching it, and stabilizing a symbiotic relationship. In light of the above, one can see the possibility for us as humans and parents to develop vitality, curiosity, creativity, learning and pure love of life in our baby from the moment they enter our lives. This end is dependant on our knowledge of the elements and significance of movement and touch capable of enriching the lives of all who surround us.

General Instructions Your baby must be sufficiently developed to perform the movements described in the book (i.e. Be able to support his or her neck, etc.). This symbol** indicates time of use in the book. It is recommended that every movement be practiced on both sides of your and your babys body, left and right. Any remarks regarding the duration of a movement refer to the entire movement from beginning to end. In certain movements the duration and/or repetition are not stipulated. In these cases, the duration is dependant upon the messages you receive from your baby and/or your own personal comfort. It is recommended that you routinely take a short pause at the end of each movement in order to obtain optimal results. For individual movements the duration and/or repetition of a movement are dependant upon your personal comfort and needs. The book also emphasizes movements related to strengthening the muscles of the pelvic floor, which are essential in regulating a healthy life, particularly during pregnancy and immediately following the post-natal period. The muscles of the pelvic floor support pelvic organs (such as the bladder, intestines and uterus in females), and work jointly with the stomach muscles in the maintenance of continence as part of the urinary and anal sphincters. It is strongly suggested that you learn more about these muscles. In order to contract your pelvic floor muscles (PFM) follow these guidelines (this symbol * indicates time of use in the book): 1. Take a deep breath (try to inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth). 2. While exhaling concentrate on your PFM - contract your sphincters and draw them towards the inside of your body (imagine that you are doing a lifting action) 3. On your next exhale you shall draw your navel towards your back (by contracting the deep abdominal muscles- tranversus abdominis). This shall be done without any movement of your lumbar spine and/or the pelvis.You shall keep your spine and pelvis in neutral position. 4. Keep breathing while holding the PFM and transversus abdominis contraction as long as you can even when you are performing a movement.

Illustrations A picture is worth a thousand words This book is illustrated with photographs capturing the essence of every movement. 1. Movements are photographed in different stages according to their complexity. Combined movements are photographed in two stages while simpler movements are photographed in one stage only. 2. Some movements are photographed from two different angles. 3. Some movements are photographed from a distance and some are close ups. 4. Some of the photographs indicate atmosphere and mood only and do not carry any explanation. Warning! The ball contains small parts and must be used under adult supervision. Attention reader, The instructions set forth in this book are suitable for a healthy human being. In case of doubt, one should seek medical advice before any activity. The responsibility lies with the reader only.

MOVEMENT & TOUCH between PARENT & CHILD,

filled with unlimited laughter, embrace & love

snuggle up

together

Enjoyment Movement: Sit comfortably and bounce your baby on an overball. Warning: Your baby must be sufficiently developed for this movement.** (Page 8) Tips: 1. Tilt your baby back gently, loosen your hold on them and then catch them by holding them firmly against you once more. 2. With your baby sitting on the ball form circular motions and support your baby at all times.

bounce

giggle

&

up

up

up

For your baby - Enjoyment from movement, your touch and the overball beneath their legs, as well as strengthening of abdominal and neck muscles Movement: Hold your baby on an overball and lift them up from a lying to a sitting position. Warning: Your baby must be sufficiently developed for this movement.** (Page 8) Tips: Pause for a few seconds between each lift. Suggestion: 1. Keep close eye contact with your baby. 2. Sing a song or a rhyme with your baby.

Enjoyment Movement: Hold your baby firmly under their arms and move them from side to side above your head in different angles and directions. Warning: 1.Your baby must be sufficiently developed for this movement.** (Page 8) 2. Not recommended after meals.

airborne

sensations

For your baby - Enjoyment from the rolling motion, the touch of the overball and your hands upon them Movement: Lie on your back and roll your baby on an overball back and forth upon your upper body. Suggestion: Sing a song and kiss your baby often. Warning: Your baby must be sufficiently developed for this movement.** (Page 8)

kiss

roll

&

laughter

share

For your baby - Extending side and arm muscles (a feeling of back lengthening)

Movement: Place your baby on a mattress on their back and stretch their arms slightly upward by holding their arms. Duration: 4-6 seconds Repetition: 3-5 times Warning: Be extremely gentle and careful while carrying out this movement and pay close attention to your babys reactions. Tips: 1. Try to keep your babys arms close or only slightly apart from their ears. 2. Sing a song and enjoy.

stretch

gentle

For your baby Pleasure from your touch and rolling movement

grab firmly & move slowly

Movement: Sit comfortably in front of your baby and slowly sway your body from side to side while holding them under their arm and leg so that they roll from side to side. Movement duration: 4-6 seconds Repetition: 6-8 times Tips: 1. Try holding your baby by other parts of their body. 2. Try to adjoin opposite knees and elbows. Suggestion: Bend your leg slightly when your body weight is on it.

For you Shoulder relaxation and release For your baby Pleasure from your kisses and touch

Movement: Sit sidewise (knees facing the same side) and lean your body towards your baby while rolling an overball under your elbow. Duration: 6-8 seconds Repetition: 2-3 times Tips: Varying the proximity to your baby at this stage helps to accustom him or her to fun and games. Suggestion: Remove your babys clothing for this movement.

lean forward & tickle

For your baby - Strengthening of the arms, shoulders, neck and back muscles, as well as enjoyment from motion

Movement: Hold your babys legs and place an overball in front of them. Tips: Change the points at which you grip your babys legs. Suggestion: 1. Gently pull the baby back onto their stomach. 2. Begin by placing the ball within reach of your baby and distancing it gradually.

reach

the ball

For your baby - Enjoyment and strengthening of the back, neck, arms and hands Movement: Place an overball under your babys stomach and gently move them back and forth while holding them. Warning: Not recommended after a meal.

roll back

forth

&