My yfs don't call them back rubs. It's a shoulder massage. Just playing one time, I gave one of them a quick shoulder massage and apparently it felt good because he asked me to keep doing it. So then they all had to take turns getting a massage.

I would say just be aware of who is watching you if you are in a public place. And as a general rule, if you think his parents wouldn't be okay with it, be wise in your decision of if you do it or not. Logically, if his parents wouldn't like it, it would be wise just not to do it. But really, is it that big of a deal? No...

I remember watching a video one time about some school in some European country (I think) that used positive touching like back or arm rubs or massages as a form of teaching and also as a way to help the kids be calm. The teachers would do the rubbing as well as the kids on their fellow classmates. I think that, especially here in America, kids don't have a clue what positive touch is. In fact, it seems to me that a lot of kids, mostly males, think that they can show affection through playful hitting. Certainly that is possible, but I don't think it's such a good thing when the boy doesn't have a clue how to show his affection in positive, non-sexual touching, like back rubbing or massaging. Just my thoughts....

I just did a quick search on Youtube for the video but didn't find it.