Autistic Children and Swings

Whilst every child is different there are some common preferences we find, one is the link between autistic children and swings.

In this article, we’ll explore why swinging is such a beloved pastime for autistic children and how it can benefit them in various ways.

We also consider some of the problems they can bring also.

Autism and swings

It’s fair to say that most children love to swing, but for autistic kids, the experience can be especially meaningful.

Swinging provides a sensory-rich and calming activity that many autistic kids find incredibly enjoyable.

Autistic children and swings — Swings are often a favoured pastime for autistic children

Stimulation

One of the primary reasons autistic children may gravitate towards swinging is the sensory stimulation it provides.

Swinging engages their senses in multiple ways.

The gentle rocking motion offers tingling feedback, which can help them develop a better understanding of their body.

The feeling of wind against their skin and rushing past their ears may also be pleasurable.

So the sounds and the tactile sensory input can create a soothing and enjoyable experience.

Calming effect

Swinging often has a natural calming effect on many children, including those with autism.

The rhythmic motion of swinging can help reduce anxiety and stress levels.

For autistic children who may experience sensory overload or have difficulty regulating their emotions, swinging can serve as a valuable calming tool.

It provides a predictable and comforting sensation that can help them relax.

Solo endeavour

With the exception of a ‘pusher’, swinging is quite a solo activity.

Autistic children can struggle with communication and social interactions in general.

At parks and alike there is often a degree of expected interactions with other children.

Kids often make up games and chase each other.

These social interactions can be overwhelming or anxiety inducing to autistic children.

When they are on a swing none of those pressures are present. They can simply sit back and enjoy the subtle sensory input.

Improving motor skills

Swinging is an excellent activity for enhancing motor skills in autistic children.

When you actually dig into the process there is a fair amount of coordination involved.

The acts of holding onto the swing’s chains or ropes and coordinating their body movements to maintain balance are examples.

Even pumping their legs to gain momentum all contribute to fine and gross motor skill development.

These physical benefits can aid in improving their overall motor coordination without much effort.

Problems with swings

Like almost everything in life, nothing is perfect. Talking from experience there are a few challenges parents may have noticed.

Sharing swings

Quite often when children with autism get used to using a swing they want to stay on it for the foreseeable.

Sometimes lengthy queues can develop with tutting stares of other parents in the playground present.

Using a countdown for your child can be helpful in these situations. Even using visual tools like pictures of clock or timer can assist.

Sense of danger

Many parents in our position have experienced first hand a lack of a sense of danger.

Swings can actually be quite hazardous for children in a playpark, especially those with poor understanding.

Children can sprint over having no concept of how much it would hurt if they collide with someone mid swing.

Other than keeping a good grip on your children it is just a danger parents have to be aware of.

Leaving swings

In a similar vein to children not wanting to share access to swings, leaving them can be difficult too.

Autistic children can get so comfortable on swings that they would happily stay there for hours.

But we all know that we as parents are always on the clock. There is always some reason why we can’t stay in a park for too long.

Similar tactics to the sharing problem can be helpful here. You can start with a timer showing 10 minutes (or whatever your threshold), this way your child knows what to expect.

Egg timers and ‘push’ countdowns can also be helpful here.

Sometimes just a gradual reduction in the height of each swing can ease your child out of the activity.