But social barriers mean that most of us have literally lost touch with our children and our own sense of touch.

Inspired by Indian families, where head massage is a part of everyday life, and by a school scheme where children use massage, complementary therapy expert Mary Atkinson, of Chichester, decided that there was a real need to introduce this lost art to families here.

"My daughter was training to be a primary school teacher and she was going to a presentation on the Massage in Schools programme," she explains.

"It's all about positive touch and how children can respect each other's bodies. I got so inspired by it and saw what a positive thing it was, but there were no books on it for the age group I wanted."

Hence her book, Healing Touch for Children, which includes massage, reflexology and acupressure and provides simple techniques which parents and grandparents can use on their children.

This can improve a child's sleep, reduce hyperactivity and relieve tummy aches and headaches as well as bringing about a sense of serenity and wellbeing.

"I think children today are feeling quite stressed out and it can make children more irritable, more tired, cause a lack of concentration, and it's been proven that massage can do the opposite," says Mary. There are orphanages in Romania where children have never been hugged, they haven't had touch; it is important both psychologically and emotionally.

"It's so natural, so secure, and it reaches out on some very, very deep intuitive level, that you are loved and you are special."

Mary has also written a book on Indian massage after speaking to many families about their experiences of touch.

"They have a wonderful relationship of mums massaging children, and then children massaging their grandparents and I felt quite inspired by it.

"The mums will use it on the children and men have their head massaged at the barbers. Indian families aren't embarrassed by it because it's part of their culture. They use it instead of reaching for paracetamol, and it occurred to me it would be good to bring it into families here."

Mary's simple techniques, which focus on the hands, feet, head neck and shoulders. They can be done through clothes and even on the move.

"Massage is just another tool to help your kids. It's so difficult being a child these days, I think there is so much pressure.

"We don't always have the hours to say what you want to say but can communicate through touch one way of making child feel special and wanted - and it doesn't cost anything. I always say, don't underestimate the power of touch."


For more on Healing Touch for Children visit www.maryatkinson.org.uk