A swing can be calming or alerting. It can create a space and time for socializing or provide a great workout. All ages love swinging at recess! So many benefits of adding more swings to our AVS playground!
Coordination and Motor Planning
Between the ages of two and four, most children learn to pump while swinging. This involves quite a bit of heavy work, abdominal and trunk control, and timing.
Body Awareness
Our Golgi tendon organs are deep receptors located within our joints that respond to muscle pull, notifying us where our joints are in space. A swing made of stretchy fabric can really help wake up those joint receptors and create that proprioceptive awareness. But even just pumping on a plain old strap swing can stimulate those receptors.
Rock-a-Bye Baby
A swing is perfect for relaxing and de-stressing. For individuals with anxiety, OCD, sensory integration disorder, or autism, a swing is like medicine.
Focus and Attention
Swinging can be alerting and, due to an increase in blood flow to the brain, create a better environment for focus and attention. When you notice yourself or someone else checking out, it’s time to hit the swings for a quick pick-me-up. Swinging for just a few minutes can raise endorphins and wake up a sleepy brain and body.
Core Control and Upper Body Workout
As mentioned, a swing is great for learning to pump, but it can also provide an overall great workout for the legs, arms, and core. The longer the chain, the more work swinging takes.
Sensory Integration
A keen sensory awareness is not a given for everyone. Aside from the five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and feel, a swing can stimulate the sense of motion and vestibular awareness. The ability to understand the world from different planes of motion is important, as we are not always upright, and swinging can help us understand our world and our space from a different perspective.
Mood Booster
Swinging can raise endorphin levels and get your mood up! Just a few minutes of playing or rocking on a swing can change a mood, and it’s not likely you’ll see a grumpy person get off the swing they got onto.
