Childcare Connection Trust Develops Innovative Method for Teaching Children Empathy

    AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, June 28, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Children Massaging Children (CMC) programme has been developed in New Zealand by the Childcare Connection Trust, a registered charity. Most people would react with surprise or disbelief at the concept of empathy being taught in schools; however, this idea is more than mere wishful thinking. The idea of teaching children empathy has been the subject of extensive research in New Zealand and also the focus of at least two Master's degree theses in Poland.

The CMC method was created by Eva Scherer, a sports massage therapist; it taps directly into the limbic-emotional brain through sensory stimulation and positive touch and has been successfully taught to children in kindergartens and school environments. In a world where computers and logical processes dominate, CMC provides children with a more human-oriented way of experiencing the world.

The CMC method is first taught to school teachers and other professionals who then teach and supervise the children themselves. Physical contact is just between the children and consists of three simple massage techniques taught through songs.

"We stand for the fundamental right of all children to feel closeness and belonging - an essential and basic factor for their life, health and wellbeing," says Scherer. "Our programmes teach peace and empathy in the purest way."

CMC can produce calmer classrooms and improve students' academic achievements as well as increasing empathy. It reduces stress, which improves health by strengthening the immune system, decreases depression and violence and contributes to a decrease in social pathologies.

For further information, please visit www.childconnection.org.nz.

Press Contact:
Eva Scherer
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +064 212883344
Website: www.childconnection.org.nz

Child Connection is a New Zealand Registered Charity which aims to introduce our massage programmes into the education system. For further information, please contact us at [email protected].

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