Just Keep Swinging
Sensory Swings
- Can help a child calm down, improve their attention, and follow directions.
- Most swings can be specifically beneficial for those who have any sensory needs, Sensory Processing Disorder, Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, or Autism, but can be a powerful tool to encourage and support development or ALL children.
- Provides the vestibular system with a ton of sensory input that children may need to feel regulated.
- The use of swings in a specific directions and rotations can decrease sensory related behaviors (poor attention), body awareness, and motor planning difficulties.
- Sensory swings come in a variety of different shapes and sizes.
Important Terminology
- Sensory Integration: organization of integrating and processing sensations linked to emotional regulation, learning, behaviors, and daily participation.
- Proprioceptive Input: sensory input provided to the joints and muscles to alert us about our movements and body positions.
- Vestibular Input: sensation of any change in position, direction or movement.
Some, but not all, Types of Swings
- Lycra/ Cuddle Swing
- Perfect for those who like big hugs, small spaces, and tight clothing.
- The stretchy fabric envelope a child and provides the child with calming proprioceptive sensations from the fabric being against their body.
- Provides a tight space to escape any bright lights or overwhelming stimuli in the environment.
- The child can either stand, sit, or lay down, bounce, sway, or be pushed back and forth.
- Purpose of this swing is to provide proprioceptive input, vestibular input, deep touch pressure, relaxation and calming effect.
- Platform Swing
- Allows to comfortably lay down on belly with firm support underneath.
- One way to use this is to have the child lay down on their belly and place bean bags or objects on the floor beneath them to reach over and grab while swinging. Then, they can throw it at a target. This works on crossing mid-line and other sensory processing skills that a child with sensory needs often seeks.
- Purpose of this swing is to provide postural control, vestibular input, grasping strength, increased body awareness and strengthening.
- Bolster Swing
- You must place thick mats on the floor underneath this swing.
- It will challenge a child’s motor planning and core strengthening.
- Horizontal bolster provides postural stability and balance, upper body strengthening, grasping strength, leg strength and vestibular input.
- Vertical bolster provides postural control, brings hands together at midline, upper body and core strengthening, vestibular input and bilateral upper extremity coordination.
- Standard Duel Swing
- This swing is used to provide vestibular input, proprioceptive input, motor planning and core stability.
- Trapeze Bar
- The purpose of a trapeze bar is to provide grasp strengthening, vestibular input, upper body strength and endurance.
- Mushroom Swing
- Facilitates a variety of combinations to exercise the stimulation of proprioceptive, visual, and vestibular systems.
- This swing is used to develop bilateral motor coordination, balance, postural control and visuomotor coordination.
- Steering Wheel Swing
- Provides rotational input while providing opportunity for upper body strength and core stability.
- Disc Swing
- Provides vestibular input and builds core strength, motor planning and grasp strength.
Swing Safety
- Most swings comes with hardware that is needed to hand the swing for safety installment.
- Never leave the child unattended while on the swing
- Prior to installing a swing, talk to an occupational therapist or reach out to a company who can safely install any sensory swing.
- Feel free to visit Southpaw for further detailed safety tips.
Resources
- https://www.southpaw.com/sensory-integration.html
- https://kidsdreamgym.com/
- https://funandfunction.com/
