When I was growing up, swings were in every playground, park, school and kindergarten. Most of us had them in our backyards at home, sometimes as simple as a plank of wood with holes or a tyre tied to a large tree in the backyard, and some were fancy Hills metal swing sets. Over time, regulations have come in for playgrounds and the nature of swings has changed. Swings require a specific amount of space to create more safety for the swingers and the people passing by. Sadly, swings in parks, schools, kindergartens and home have been disappearing. I say sadly because swings are not just a fun physical activity for children – they have many physical and emotional benefits.
Swinging supports vestibular balance. The vestibular system is one of the sensory systems that provides the brain with information about balance and motion, and the location of your head and body in relation to your surroundings. It helps to build spatial awareness and balance. Swinging also builds core strength, strengthening the muscles that are critical for movement and, interestingly, handwriting, as it helps children to sit up straight rather than floppy in sitting at a table (core strength can also be developed by carrying heavy things like school backpacks, which is why we encourage children to carry their own!). Swinging can improve mood and often provides a soothing sensory input – the feeling of flying with the breeze on your face – and this also helps with self-regulation. The motion stimulates the vagus nerve, helping calm primitive brain responses such as fight or flight. The result is a feeling of calm and a sense of connectedness to their body.
In the ELC we value the enormous contribution that swinging can make for all children. At our Kew campus, the large swing frame for the Oak room enables different types of swings, with the strap seat helpful for children learning to push themselves. The self-pushing is really where using and strengthening the core comes into play, with the legs, torso and arms working in unison to create the motion. The large swings used in the Jungle room and Music room enable a collaborative opportunity for several children to swing together at the same time or one child to just lie there looking up at the sky. Children learn to work together to push the swing, taking on different roles. Then there are the long rope swings with knots and the tyre swings all providing different types of swinging opportunities for children to develop their skills and seek calm when they need it.
I have noticed that there are different types of adult swings now becoming more prevalent, too. The old American porch swing is making a comeback, as are egg swings for one adult on balconies and gardens. While I was travelling and visiting some public gardens I saw a variety of large adult swings and swing seats hanging from large old oak trees. What are you memories of swinging as a child? What do you think your child enjoys most about swinging?
Wendy Seidler
Director of ELC Kew
