EYFS Activities: Birth to two… Swing time

Babies and toddlers love the sensation of being swung forward and backward. A swing’s predictable rhythm seems to appeal to children of all ages, and perhaps adults too. Interestingly, the traditional swing is also a great tool for supporting babies’ and toddlers’ development.

When and how

Unlike many of the other activities that we have looked at in this series, this activity may require a little financial investment as a swing needs to be set up either in or outdoors – or ideally in both locations. It seems sad that in some early years settings, a lot of money is spent on wheeled toys and equipment for older children, but the simple swing is missing from the baby room or the toddlers’ space outdoors.

When choosing a swing, make sure that it has a robust safety harness and is positioned somewhere children do not routinely walk by. Consider placing it at a height where other children straying into its path cannot be hit by it. As swings are so popular with children, think also about erecting two side by side.

Begin using the swing when a baby can sit up well with some support.

Put the baby or toddler into the swing carefully, checking that you have not caught their legs. Always attach the safety harness.

Check that there are no other children in the way, start gently pushing the child.

Make eye contact and smile.

Consider repeating the same words every time you push the child – for example, ‘Are you ready?’ or ‘There you go!’

Vary how you push the child by, for example, sometimes pausing before you push them gently.

Finish the activity at the first sign that the child is losing interest.

Safety point: Never leave a child unattended in a swing. Use the safety harness and supervise carefully to avoid other children straying into the path of the swing.

Developmental benefits

There is a wide range of developmental benefits that children gain from being in a swing. As well as providing a great way to strengthen a relationship with a child, swings:

• strengthen babies’ and toddlers’ muscles as they maintain balance and posture (physical)
• help children to associate key words with actions (language)
• encourage babies’ and toddlers’ well-being as the rhythmic motion is comforting (emotional)
• support children’s spatial awareness as they move suspended in the air (physical)
• support children’s attachments with their key person as they spend one-to-one time (emotional).
  
  

Next steps

Once children are familiar with being on a swing, you could introduce a song to sing. With toddlers, you might also introduce other rocking equipment such as a rocking horse that they can start to use themselves.

What to observe

There are several aspects of development that are worth observing:

Language If you introduce key phrases that you use when you push a child, watch out for signs of understanding in babies or attempts at using the word with toddlers.

Communication Observe how babies and toddlers communicate that they want to go into the swing or have had enough. Look out for pointing or movement of limbs.

Balance and posture Watch to see how well the baby or toddler maintains balance and posture.

Home learning

Many parents may have already taken their child to a playground with a swing, but might not know the developmental benefits of this. It is worth letting parents know how useful the swing is in supporting children’s balance, posture and spatial awareness. It is also helpful for parents to know that language can be stimulated if they get into the habit of using the same phrases during key actions – for example, ‘Up you go!’ or ‘Push!’

Rhyme time

There are many rhymes and songs you can use with babies and toddlers as you swing them to and fro. One example is ‘Swing me over the water’:

Swing me over the water,

Swing me over the sea,

Swing me over the garden wall,

And swing me home for tea…

WHEE!

To listen to this rhyme, visit: www.scottishbooktrust.com/audio/swing-me-over-the-water

BOOK TIME

Look out for simple picture books that involve swings or playgrounds. A good example of a book that includes pictures of swings is Say Goodnight by Helen Oxenbury. As well as being simple, it has lovely illustrations that are appealing for both babies and toddlers.

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