February 10th, 2009
Learning to take turns on the Swing Set- Social Studies in actions
Most of us would have to think long and hard before recalling an academic lesson from elementary school, but I bet memories of the playground are much more vivid and easy and to recall. The color of the swing seats, the metal links that formed the actual swing chain and the hardware that held the whole thing together forms a very clear and distinct mental picture because that’s where the real education was taking place, on the playground. Few of us thrill seekers could resist that rush of the wind against your face as you pump your legs harder in order to reach higher and higher. Our fourth grade classroom was on the west side of the school building, closest to the Swing Sets in terms of distance from the main double doors. When the clock would near 10:15 all the rowdy, obnoxious behavior in our room would cease because none of us kids wanted to be held back for even a second when that recess bell sounded. If everyone behaved then we could race through the doors without delay, quickly claiming the free swings before the other grades even made it to the hallway.
Even with all the excitement of the Swing Sets and thrill of competition for who could soar the highest and who could execute the most daring stunts in mid air, we still managed to keep it orderly. Any fight or heated argument about cutting in line or hogging the best swing for too long would result in a loss of privileges for the remainder of recess or even all of lunch break! More important than times tables, spelling bees or composition, children learn to interact socially during recess and lunch. We learned to get along with one another and make compromises; take turns and share the precious Swing Set equipment. What was the use of practicing that back flip from the high swing if the whole class was banned from the playground? Sure there will always be disagreements and the occasional tussle, but when the adults would come over to see what the problem was, we would always act like nothing was the matter and pretend to be pushing one another on the swing.
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February 5th, 2009
Tire Swings – innovation and recreation
Probably the most quintessential piece of recreation equipment ever used in this country is the Tire Swing. It symbolizes the simple joys of rural living as well as the industriousness of our great nation. What a great idea it was to fashion such an entertaining contraption with nothing but a long piece of rope and an old used rubber tire! The world could use more of this type of resourceful thinking. Recycling an old tire to be used for purposes of leisure and entertainment is great because not only does it keep the used rubber out of the land fill but it also provides virtually endless entertainment for young children.
When God gives us lemons, make lemonade. It must have been in the spirit of this wise old adage that the first Tire Swing was made. What potential that anonymous inventor must have seen in some worn out, treadles rubber tire. Not only practical but versatile, a tire can be turned into a swing for a single rider or a larger tire can be made to hold two or more, making it an adventure in teamwork and physics. Getting a heavy round rubber swing propelled into action is a much different task than your standard flat chain linked one-seater.
Most of us have special childhood memories that are associated with certain specific playgrounds or jungle gym equipment. I will never forget the Tire Swing at the park down the street from my grandparent’s house. As I recall, it was brand new, shiny black rubber with actual treads and a well known tire company’s name written along the wall. It was held in place by three separate linked chains that all lead to very complex looking swivel device that allowed for back and forth swing action as well as roundabout rotation. My friends and I would make ourselves dizzy for hours on end swinging and twisting and pushing that tire to its limits. We knew were doing a good job when the wooden beam above our heads began to creak and moan under the weight of our little laughing spinning bodies.
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February 3rd, 2009
SwingSet placement and playground safety
Playground safety is an enormous concern among parents, educators, daycare supervisors as well as conscientious children. Scrapes and bruises will happen, that is completely understandable, but major injuries can be easily prevented by following a few basics rules and utilizing one’s common sense. One of the most important things to consider from a safety standpoint is the age appropriateness of the equipment that will be installed at a particular playground. A super tall Swingset and very complex jungle gym is not appropriate for toddlers and younger elementary school children. Also, the arrangement of the chosen equipment is critical. Everything should be spaced so that all the children can be supervised, even with minimal staff present. There should be several vantage points from which all structures are visible and it is helpful to be able to see the larger and potentially more dangerous pieces from any windows facing the playground.
The surface on which the equipment is erected is also crucial when maintaining a safe play area. A Swingset should typically be placed on sand or grass so there is a soft cushion on which to fall. A concrete or gravel surface would worsen injuries and would also cause unnecessary wear on the kids’ joints when they land. Be sure that all play equipment meets current safety standards, all applicable codes and is certified by all necessary associations. Children tend to follow one another around and clear traffic patterns will emerge on the playground. Pay close attention to these lines of traffic as collisions and other safety hazards cab be easily avoided by proper placement of the equipment. If certain structures are too close together or creating a dangerous traffic pattern, simply have one or more items moved. The cost is minimal in comparison to medical bills and potential lawsuits. It does not make sense to put monkey bars in close proximity of a Swingset, for example, to prevent dare devils from trying to fly from one onto the other or a simple fall turning into a compound fracture. Take a few simple precautions and help make sure the playground is safe for everyone to use!
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January 22nd, 2009
Swing Sets- little magic carpet rides for children
Even before we are born, our bodies learn the comfort and excitement of perpetual motion. Though we are not aware of it, I am sure the long car rides we experience from inside the womb are soothing to a certain extent. As infants, we are constantly being rocked back and forth in an effort to calm our little nerves. Jumpers, bouncers, rockers and swings seem to be in the name of each and every device geared toward infants and toddlers. As soon as we can talk we ask for horses and ponies (real and wooden), tricycles and bicycles, skate and trampolines. Anything that takes us farther from walking and closer to flying will do the trick. Most schools and neighborhood parks are equipped with Swing Sets so it is not necessary to bother your parents (or Santa for that matter) for something that we could walk a couple blocks to enjoy and would inevitably be forced to share with other children anyway.
Before learning to pump your legs, time on the Swing Set was limited to the patience and endurance of your parent or guardian or whoever happened to be doing all the pushing at that time. And one could only fly as high as the pusher was willing to push. Once you learned to kick out those legs and lean back just so, you could propel yourself to the heavens, or so it seemed. I can remember being a kid and swinging for hours, testing the limits of the chain links and the metal frame. Fly too high and there would be slack in the chain and the descent would not be nearly as smooth as the ride up. Once swinging in a straight line gets monotonous, then we tried twisting and moving side to side as we pumped, which made for quite a hazardous ride on the Swing Set. One solid collision with the pole was enough to set most of us sane children back on the right track. Others would continue their daredevil swinging until a broken bone or other painful setback would ground them a give them some time to think about safety.
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January 20th, 2009
Consulting online Swing Set Reviews can save you time, money and the hassle of buying the wrong unit
The right piece of playground equipments can provide hours, days, and even months of wonderful entertainment and exercise for your children but there are so many different kinds available to chose from it can make it very difficult to make an informed decision about which one to purchase. Safety is always the number one concern of any parent, school or day care facility. Reliability would be a close second. How sturdy is the equipment? Will it bend or break or be susceptible to changes in the weather? These issues and concerned can be quickly laid to rest by purchasing a large, sturdy play set that does not have any protruding screws, nuts or bolts. It can be very helpful to consult one of the many Swing Set Reviews that are available online. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and levels of age-appropriateness so it is best to find out what the experts as well as other consumers are saying about the product before making any purchase yourself.
The possibilities are endless when trying to choose the right piece of recreational equipment to suit the needs of your children. You might just want a simple slide and swing combination, maybe with a small stair case and peek-a-boo cubby type of fort at the top. For older children or a large group of children, you may want to invest in multiple free standing or connecting units that have several swings as well as many different activities. A full featured jungle gym like that could be pricey and require a very involved installation process. Comprehensive Swing Set Reviews will not only suggest the right playground for your specific needs, but also will provide advice about installation, whether or not it can be done without the assistance of professional construction workers.
There are many discount swing set companies that use metal or inferior wood to make their equipment. Do not settle for shoddy equipment that could endanger those whom you love and are entrusted in your care! Be sure to research the unit as well as the company that produces it very thoroughly before making a purchase. A Swing Set Review will save you the trouble of travelling around to visit several stores in person or even spending hours in front of the computer doing the research yourself. It is helpful to take measurements of your yard or playground before you begin any formal research, that way you will know your spatial limitations from the beginning. It is ok to budget and look for sales or bargains, but do not, under any circumstances, sacrifice quality craftsmanship and top notch safety standards in order to save yourself a few bucks. It could end up costing much more in hospital bills, not to mention the guilt and regret that comes along with knowing a child was injured because of a poor financial decision.
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