Sensory Swing: Help Your Child Calm Down, Improve Attention and Following Directions

Letting your child experience the outdoors, playing games, exploring the surrounding area and what comes with it, is one of the smartest moves you could make. Besides getting to spend more time on fresh air and soak up the sun, playing and staying outdoors has numerous benefits for children. And one of the most fun activities children like to engage in when outside is playing on swings. Although considered free and fun entertainment, it has been said that swinging can aid children’s development, which can be of vital importance for children with special needs.

Sensory Benefits

Children love swinging, and this, in fact, might be one of the most cherished memories of childhood in people all over the world. The simple idea of ‘flying through the air on a swing’ and feeling the breeze on the face is just amazing and fortunately, everyone can experience this thrill. Even children with special needs can feel and experience this.

Did you know that swinging has proven to stimulate the vestibular and photoreceptive systems? Yup, that’s right, and it seems that children with special needs can benefit a lot from this. How come? Well, from what we know, the vestibular system is responsible for a human to process balance, while the photoreceptive system is responsible for how the brain processes light through the eyes. And since, children with special needs may struggle processing sensory input, swinging can help them engage all of these senses.

By installing a fun and sturdy sensory swing set in your yard, you’ll help your child to properly sense everything around them, the light, the wind, the sound of children playing and screaming or any other sound around them. The more your child uses the swing, the more their body and brain will engage these senses and help them get used to them. In other words, a sensory swing will help your child accept these sounds without feeling agitated.

Calming Effect

According to professionals and scientists, swinging can release endorphins in the body, so it’s not strange that it evokes a feeling of happiness in children. And, when children are calm and happy, the chances of having meltdowns, tantrum moments, panic attacks or high anxiety feelings are set low. Even though swinging can help children feel more alert, still, it can evoke a feeling of calmness, happiness and freedom. Whether your child is hyperactive, has autism, ADHD or any other health condition, a swing can help them calm their senses and feel more happy, relaxed and ready to cooperate with anything.

Improved Attention Span

As we already said, swinging can help children with special needs to sense everything around them while helping them stay calm and more focused. On the other hand, it may also help them balance and reduce the need to get up from the swing and do something. Instead, the feeling of relaxation and the improved blood flow to the brain may help children with special needs to refocus their attention. Consequently, this can improve their ability to sit still in one place without feeling anxious.

Picking a Swing

When in the search for the right sensory swing for your home, you can choose from a large selection. Platform swing, full support swing seat, hammock swing, high back sensory chair swing, bolster swing and monkey swing are some of the many swing types. If not sure what’s the right one for your child, consult with a professional or your therapist in order to choose one that’s appropriate for your child’s needs. The best thing of all is that most of these swings allow for being installed indoors, so when the weather outside doesn’t allow for your child to swing, you can always uninstall the swing and reinstall it indoors.

Things to Have In Mind When Installing a Sensory Swing

Regardless of the place where you plan to install the swing, safety is what matters the most. So, when in the search for the right one, make sure the swing is sturdy and has all of the needed parts for its installation. On the other hand, you need to double-check the place on which you plan to install the swing. You should ensure that it’s durable and able to withstand the weight that comes with it.

You should also make sure that the surrounding area is safe and doesn’t pose any serious danger in case of a fall. If you aren’t sure how your child will react, you can ensure their safety by putting on a helmet on their head or placing a safety mattress in front of them. Adult supervision is essential at all times, especially if having a child with special needs. Taking your chances is something you shouldn’t do in this case.

Regardless of the type of swing you choose, your child’s age and condition, make sure to introduce the overall swinging process goes smoothly. Take baby steps and introduce your child to the swing. Don’t push them in the beginning if they don’t want to try. The idea is to let your child connect to this new activity on their own. Never force them to hop on the swing, instead, let time do its thing.