If you read our last blog on Sensory Integration, you would now understand how swings are not only loads of fun, but great therapeutic tools too! To follow up, we’re going to share some of our favourite swings at the clinic…
The hammock swing (a staple in our clinic!): Children are able to sit in the swing and be ‘cocooned’ by the netting as they are pushed around. They can also lie on their backs for a truly relaxing (or dizzying!) experience. Best of all, they can lie on their stomachs (in prone extension) to improve their postural strength. This is the best position to incorporate fine motor activities and games, as children can propel themselves by pushing off the floor with their hands, and reach for fine motor instruments, puzzle pieces etc.
The Lycra swing: a stretchy hammock that ‘cuddles’ the child, calming them as the swing. Can be suspended from two separate points, to create an open hammock, or suspended from one central point to be more enclosing.
The Chair Swing: Children can sit like kings and queens in this rainbow-striped throne as they are pushed in calming, linear (back-and-forth) motions or awakening, rotational (round-and-round) motions! Note: if you’re pushing your child around in a circular motion, make sure you frequently swap the direction or rotation.
Bolster Swing: This one has endless uses! Straddle it and ride like a horse, pushing and pulling on the ropes to get it moving (a great motor planning activity). Some lucky children have ridden it like a broomstick in our ‘Harry Potter’ game. They’ve jumped over it like a log on fire and even balanced on it!
The Kanga Swing: behold the bouncing swing of fury! Requiring amazing feats of strength, postural control and motor planning, this springing sensation is a delight!! Watch your heads on the ceiling!!
The UFO swing: Great for little aliens to sit on and reach for game pieces off the floor. It’s a good motor planning challenge just working out how to get on it!
The disc swing: A classic style swing that requires a whole lot of co-ordination and upper body strength. Kids love timing their dismounts off the swing onto the crash pads!
Want to get into some swinging action at home? We just love the swings from IKEA!
For guidelines on suspended equipment and ideas about how to get the most out of your swing, speak to an OT at Occupational Therapy For Children.
