Article published on 7 December 2023
Playgrounds are a haven for children, offering a space for fun, laughter, and physical activity. Among the various equipment that form the beloved community hubs, the humble swing holds a special place in the hearts of both children and adults. Swings are a traditional play item and have been around as long as we can remember, providing not only a source of entertainment but also contributing to physical, social, and cognitive development.
Who doesn’t love a swing? When you have a bad day and everything goes wrong, you can just go and swing your worries away. The lightness of flying through the air and the soothing feeling of gentle swinging surely change the perspective. Swings are not only great for children, but also for teens and adults. Everyone, let’s swing!
Development on the swing
Swinging and rocking is an important activity for developing children’s psychomotor skills. These movements require motor coordination of the entire body. To swing and rock, children need to coordinate their arms, legs and vision. These activities involve a to-and-fro motion, whether from front-to-back or side-to-side. It stimulates and develops the vestibular senses causing that “tickle in the tummy” feeling, like the one you first experienced as a baby when your parents threw you up in the air and then caught you. The vestibular system is responsible for creating the sense of balance, coordination and orientation.
More to be learned
Swinging and rocking also activates the muscle groups required to keep the body in a vertical position. It allows children to leave their stable position and experiment with uncoordinated movements. It teaches them to develop their spatial awareness and posture. On a swing, after establishing a continuous and stable rocking motion, children can then work towards increasing their height with each swing, bringing more fun and excitement. Another lesson to be learned is waiting your turn as swings are such a popular item in the playground.
The Iconic
There has been an evolution of the swing over time and we now have a swing for every situation, but let’s focus on a few iconic swings.
The Proludic Pod Swing – a swing that is suitable for every age and ability. This swing is truly inclusive and invites everyone – babies, toddlers, children, tweens, teenagers, and adults – to join the fun. The pod seat design enables people with various abilities and preferences to be in different positions while swinging.
The iconic swing set with two different seat options, cradle and flat seat, is the most popular swing combination. It is a simple classic that shouldn’t be missing in any playspace. Wheeeee!
The Kanopé swing with asymmetrical and organically shaped posts – designed to complement our Kanopé range, has been installed in many playgrounds around Australia. This popular swing set can be customised to suit the client’s preferences and is available with many different seating options.
The Duo Swing enables swinging face-to-face, encouraging communication and language learning, and relationship building. The seat is raised, so that the heads of children and parents are at the same height, making it easier to communicate. Also, the adult can access the swing seat from the side, rather than straddling a bar, which is more convenient. A perfect swing to form connections and share the experience.
Hurricane swing – is it a swing or a spinner? It is safe to say that the Hurricane swing will make your tummy tickle and your head spin. Up to four users can join the whirlwind adventure that promotes meeting and connecting with new friends. This swing is suitable for older children, teens and adults alike.
We also offer combination swings that allow you to mix and match different seat options such as cradle, junior, flat, duo and pod seats to create a truly inclusive swing experience. Swing frames are also available in different materials to reflect the site characteristics and client expectations. Options include laminated timber, robinia wood, galvanised steel or painted galvanised steel in various colours.
Final swing things
Swings will always be an integral part of playgrounds worldwide, offering stimulating and calming joy as well as many developmental benefits for everyone. As playgrounds evolve to become more inclusive swinging remains an essential component of childhood. So, the next time you visit a playground, take a moment to experience the endless joys of swinging yourself.
Ready to swing through life?
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