While it is impossible to determine when the first person tied a seat to a rope and swung themselves around like a pendulum (especially since we have images of swings and riders on pottery from Ancient Greece), we can learn a little about their development as America’s most recognized piece of playground equipment.

We know that by the time of the American Revolution, kids had developed the art of hanging rope and wood plank swings from their trees to get their daily dose of adrenaline. Most agree that the concept of swinging is the natural byproduct of kids having fun on barn ropes and pulleys. These moved out to the swimming hole where a well placed rope in an overhanging tree was enough to keep the kids busy for hours. As families made their way across the American prairies (where trees were sparse), swing sets made of wood became a popular way for frontier children to pass the time. Most agree that the concept of swinging is the natural byproduct of kids having fun on barn ropes and pulleys. These moved out to the swimming hole where a well placed rope in an overhanging tree was enough to keep the kids busy for hours.

The Industrial Revolution of the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to increased urbanization among the working classes and, thus, a loss of extensive personal property. Kids had nowhere to roam and play like they used to. Therefore, the playset was birthed. Kids who had no natural foliage to climb or hills to scale, turned to their industrial imitations. As a result, a new industry was born. In 1912, the University of Virginia sponsored a teachers’ program that brought about the first complete playground and swingset package. The kids loved it, so the university made the plans public for other schools to build their own. By, at least, the late 1940s, companies such as Creative Playthings were mass producing wooden swingsets designed for the average home. Backyard swingsets and other play equipment literally exploded onto the market as returning WWII vets birthed a suburban Boomer generation. Swingsets, along with slides, seesaws, and jungle gyms (or “monkey bars” as they would later be called) became the standard means of childhood expression, and icons for generations of schoolchildren to come.

Author Bio: Ethan S. writes on behalf of Design55, a UK-based designer furniture shop that has plenty of great outdoor furniture sets for kids and parents alike!

Adirondacks, loveseats, framed or simply hung from your porch ceiling–there are now so many porch swing styles and materials to choose from that you’re certain to find one that’s perfect for you. Relaxing, lovely to look at and reasonably priced, here are a few of the many wonderful options for you to consider. Metal Porch Swings Visually stunning, comfortable and sturdy, metal swings provide an elegant option for your porch. Metal porch swings are available in a variety of intricate styles created by delicately manipulating the swing’s metalwork. The result can be lovely latticework, scrolled accents and other intricate designs that are certain to provide added beauty to your home. Photo credit

Wicker Porch Swings The timeless elegance of wicker is reminiscent of a classic southern style veranda. Wicker porch swings look lovely in their natural color, or can be painted to match your color scheme. You can even jazz things up by adding a bright pillow or two. Keep in mind that wicker describes the weave and is not the name of a material. While wicker is often created from plants like cane and rattan, synthetics such as plastic can also be utilized and are typically more durable. Photo credit

Canopy Swings

If your porch or balcony doesn’t have a roof, a canopy swing is the perfect answer to hot, sunny days. Attached to a frame, they are easily moved as necessary and can even sit in your garden or yard.

Rope Swings

Doze the day away in the comfort of a rope porch swing. Rope swings provide the informal look and comfort of a hammock with the style of a swing. Typically manufactured using cotton or polyester, rope porch swings allow you to recline or nap vertically rather than horizontally as you would in a hammock.

Wooden Porch Swings There’s nothing like the natural splendor of wood. Cypress porch swings are considered the most resistant to harsh weather; pine swings each have their own unique designs created by natural knots in the wood; teak offers an exotic option, while white and red cedar is known for its natural beauty.

Photo credit

Recycled Plastic Swings

You can appreciate the environment and help it at the same time by choosing a recycled plastic porch swing. They are usually made from items like milk and juice jugs that are cleaned and molded into a product known as poly-lumber. Like regular lumber, it acts like wood and can be cut, drilled or screwed into a number of attractive porch swing styles.

Gliders

There’s nothing quite like the calming motion of a glider porch swing to calm frayed nerves. Moving forward and back on a flat surface, the gentle sway of a glider provides a soothing motion that’s perfect for mothers with infants and young children. Add some pillows and you’ll be certain to experience the ultimate in outdoor comfort.

While spending your afternoons relaxing in a porch swing may be an enjoyable pastime, swings can also improve circulation, relieve stress, decrease heart and respiration rates and improve concentration. Porch swings can offer a place for peaceful contemplation, or can help you re-connect with someone you love. Adding both an aesthetic quality to your outdoor living space and a sense of calm to your spirit, a porch swing can be one of the wisest home furnishing purchases you make.

A creator of outdoor-scapes in her spare time, Jessica Hayden teaches children the art of self-defense, and believes all kids can benefit from the discipline and confidence it gives them. Jessica enjoys studying mixed martial arts. She also is a content contributor for Hertao.

Image: Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Swinging starts with your parents. They just want to get you out of the house, but you’re too small to walk or climb. As soon as you can hold yourself upright, you’re plopped into the baby swing – a circular enclosure with holes for your legs. Your fingers are curled around the chains, and you’re told to hold on tight. Your parents pull you back, gently at first and not too high, and then they let you go. You squeal with delight. Soon, you’re begging for the backyard version, which hangs from yellow ropes and has a movable barrier that you can lift up and slide out of on your own.

Grandma rocks you on the wooden porch swing while she drinks lemonade and you lick a Popsicle on hot summer nights. It’s not about the sensation; it’s about the comfort. You rest your head on her lap while she tells you all about her childhood. Eyelids heavy, you rock to sleep.

Image: taliesin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Impossible to ignore, perched on the playground like a skyscraper, is the dinosaur of them all: the giant metal swing set. An a-frame with a row of swings, it’s so simple, yet so enticing. It’s where the Big Kids hang out. They pump their legs, jumping off at the peak of their swing. You can’t get too close for fear that they will crash into you and knock you flat. You wonder how their momentum doesn’t carry them all the way around, taking them up and over the beam to which the chains are securely fastened. It’s one of God’s mysteries.

You wait for an empty seat, and an empty one next to it to make sure nobody bumps into you. Moving tentatively you lay your belly over the seat and scoot back and forth to get your bearings. Before too long you’re sitting upright on the swing, learning how your own motion can propel you skyward. You pump your legs forward and backward, close your eyes, and reach for the sky. As much as you love the playground, you want a swing of your own. The Norman Rockwellesque vision of a wooden swing hanging on ropes from a tree is too romantic for you, now that you’ve conquered the tiger of them all. You need thrill, complexity, and drama. Then, the day arrives when your parents take you into the backyard to show you their surprise: a swing set complete with slide, tree house, climbing wall, and—dangling in the middle of it all—two brand new, untouched swings. Heaven on wheels.

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Rosa Scully has always loved Christmas and currently works as a content contributor for Santa’s Quarters, a retailer of artificial Christmas trees and other Christmas decorations.

Appropriate Play Surfaces:

Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Wood Mulch Wood mulch is a good surface to place under a swing set or other structure. It is soft enough to adequately cushion your landing. It should measure 9-12 inches in depth; it needs to be measured twice per year to be safe. The drawback to mulch is that it blows in the wind, and may need to be raked frequently to remain deep enough. On the plus side, wood mulch is generally a cheap cover-surface, and is aesthetically pleasing as well as biodegradable. Sand Sand is an acceptable option as a playground cover. Like wood mulch, it is a natural option and is a fairly inexpensive choice. One disadvantage is that it also has to be measured semi-annually, and replaced as needed to ensure the proper depth. Pea gravel Gravel is a suitable, inexpensive choice for surfacing a play area. Like any natural surface, it has to be measured regularly to ensure that its depth is maintained and replaced as needed. One disadvantage of using gravel is that it may get packed too hard under well-trodden areas, and may need to be broken up occasionally.

Foam
Foam rubber is a great option as it also meets playground safety standards. It is soft to land on, whether jumping down to dismount from the swing set or falling off a jungle gym. It is available in mats, poured form, or as mulch. An additional benefit of mat or poured foam surfacing is that it provides a smooth surface for wheel chairs, unlike all the other options.

One disadvantage is that foam can be a costly option, but on the plus side it needs to be replaced much less often than other materials. It can also be repaired in small sections. Foam is available in a variety of colors including neutral ones that blend in with natural surroundings. Inappropriate Surfaces: Hard Ground If the ground surface at your home or facility is not naturally sandy, this is not an appropriate playground cover since it doesn’t properly break a fall or lessen the risk of injury. Concrete or Asphalt Concrete or asphalt should not be used under any play equipment. Not only is it uncomfortable to land on, it can easily cause scrapes and even broken bones. Take into consideration the cost and frequency of filling or resurfacing, as well as eye appeal to your backyard and children (colors, shapes, etc). Keep in mind that a little more cost may buy you a lot more peace of mind. Weighing all these factors will ensure you make the safest and best choice for maximum enjoyment.

Image: Rosen Georgiev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Alice McCoy has six children, and is a part time blogger and the daughter of a long-haul trucker. Although she stays at home with her kids now, she still stays involved with her Dad’s business by keeping an eye out for truck driving jobs and writes about specific trucking topics like semi truck insurance.

Getting the Ball Rolling

Image: Tina Phillips / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Wise parents will thrust their children into the great outdoors with the well-worn phrase, “Go outside and play.” Despite their protests and whining, getting some fresh air won’t, in fact, “kill them.” Rather, it tends to have the opposite effect. Once children understand that they aren’t allowed back inside for a little while, they tend to start looking for things to do (I remember using twigs to dig rivers in the dirt, and then filling them with the hose). There’s no greater enemy to young children than boredom. To combat this great evil in their small world, they will eventually start those creative gears turning. No matter how rusty they may be, they’ll end up having fun in spite of themselves. Invite at least one friend over as it’s always more interesting than playing alone; this also increases their social skills.

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Art of Make Believe Turning their boredom into activity allows kids to develop a healthy imagination; a trait all parents hope to see in their children. Imagining develops creativity that is needed for problem-solving skills (for entering the work force and higher education). It’s no accident that Disney Studios has an “Imagineering Department;” the mind factory that has brilliantly hatched our most beloved Disney movies and documentaries. Play Equipment Teaches Social Skills Initially, children will gravitate toward play equipment that doesn’t take much effort on their part. They might sit on the swings to sulk for a little while. Next, they will almost always embark on climbing apparatus; effort comes into play when height is rewarded, directly to how hard they try. Kids begin to get a sense of accomplishment as they climb higher and higher, aiming to the sky. This action carries directly over into finding rewards for their hard work in school. They also develop faith in themselves that they can affect their outcomes.

Sliding takes more effort, but teaches another skill. Kids learn that in order to enjoy a few moments of fun (sliding down) they will need to put in the effort first (climbing up the steps). While they definitely aren’t contemplating these hard facts of life while they trudge up the ladder rungs, it starts to show in their learning to wait a moment to take their turn; a good lesson to tone down their primal urge for “instant gratification.”

Playing outside teaches our children how to better interact with others, problem-solve, have fun with and stretch their imaginations. More importantly, your kids will gain confidence in themselves and their ability to create happiness.

Alice McCoy has six children, and is a part time blogger and the daughter of a long-haul trucker. Although she stays at home with her kids now, she still stays involved with her Dad’s business by keeping an eye out for truck driving jobs and writes about specific trucking topics like semi truck insurance.

DIY

DIY Guides

Swing sets and playsets are mostly used from kids. This should be telling you enough by itself: safety is extremely important. It’s a top priority even over features and price.

How to recognize the safe swing set at the store? How to keep your existing swing safe for longer time? How to build a safe swing set yourself? How to safely use it? To learn this and the other aspects of swing set safety keep reading the article.

Swing Set Safety Planning

The right approach to swing set safety is to carefully plan before you even buy the tool. When choosing the location, make sure it will be large enough, properly drained, flat and with appropriate shape.

There should be enough space around the swing set when your kids are using it. Of course you must have in mind what kind of swing or playset will they prefer – this depends on their interests and habits. A good idea is to surface the are area with gravel and/or sand which is deep enough. Good green grass is also an excellent choice but you will have to maintain it and keep it from prickly weeds. And think about what will happen in the sunny winter days when there is no grass. Sand is better choice. At any costs avoid installing the swing set on a concrete platform – falling on such isn’t nice at all.

It’s recommended that you buy equipment which meets the Home Playground Standard ASTM-1148.

Safety Considerations When Buying or Building A Swing Set

Once site planning is done, you may consider buying or building the swing set. There are several aspects of safety that you have to consider at this stage:

• Safe equipment. The equipment used in your playset should be suitable for their age. A lot of the accidents at the playground happen because young children use equipment which is intended for older kids. Economically it’s often a wise decision to buy the equipment for years ahead at once, but if you do that make sure to remove or hide those tools that are not suitable for your kids.
• Distances and number of tools. The more tools and features a swing set has and the closer they are placed to each other, the more riskier it becomes. Of course it’s nice to have a playset with many things and kids like that but it becomes easier to hit a hand or wedge up a finger in some of them. You should prefer cleaner and more elegant sets with enough distance between the swings. It’s recommended that this distance is at least 22 inches.
• Quality of materials and parts. Most parents are concerned if the playset is stable enough. But I have never seen one that falls apart and thus injured the kid. More often than that the swing set hard parts are not well protected and expose dangerous sharp points. So rather than getting obsessed by the weight sustainability pay more attention whether the parts ares mooth or properly covered.

The quality of the wood, metal or plastic used for the swing is also important.

Ongoing Safety Supervision

After you have chosen a proper location, prepared a smooth surface and bought/built a good safe swing set the swing set safety becomes a question of ongoing supervision and teaching the children to use the tool safely. If it is large and stable enough, use it together with them to show them how to swing without falling from the seat.

Depending on the kids age you may want to supervise them each time when they use the playset. This can be time consuming but it’s also a good way to have more fun with them and feel really safe.

You need to regularly check the chains, swings, sliders, nuts and bolts for deterioration, cracks and tightness. Tighten up the bolts when needed and replace equipment when it shows first symptoms of damage.

Refrain children from climbing on the swing set when wet, when the weather is inappropriate or when they are not dressed safely (any too loose dresses are potentially hazardous when using such kind of tools).

The key here is to find the balance between teaching the kids about safety risks and at the same time keeping most concerns away of them so they don’t get frightened but remain reasonable. Don’t forget outdoor swinging should be more about fun than about anything else!

So, Here Are Some Plans:

Detailed Play Plans offers several detailed plans for complex play sets. You can download a prospect of the plans for free in PDF format.

Some very good wooden swing plans are available at all4thekids.com at low prices – most are less than $20 per plan. Their plans include a bill of materials as well.

FREE! This link goes directly to a free PDF swing set plan. It’s only one, but asks no money.

MORE FREE! Here’s another PDF link giving an excellent wooden playset plan by Hot4Cad. Thanks guys!

Photo by Chickenboots at Flickr

If all you need is to build a simple swing set these plans are exactly what you need and cost only $12 each.

Extraordinary and probably not what you are looking for, but anyway I’d like to share it – this swing set planter plan is sold for $9. Honestly I would prefer to swing myself instead of my plants, but everyone is different.

Some cheap plans (most under $10) for canopy and adult swing sets can be found at Woodcraft, and again there. They also have a funny plan for toddler swing.

Few nice wooden playset plans can be found here. Each one is between $10 and $20. And if you feel keen on building other stuff too, perhaps you’d better buy 14,000 woodworking plans for all kind of stuff as a package for around $50.

FREE! Very simple, but free plan that can be printed can be seen here.

If the free plans listed here don’t suit you, better spend few bucks and buy some plans – less than $20 for a package is a good price. Some vendors sell plans for $50+ which in my opinion is a bit too much. But spending hours searching for free swing set plans is not a very good idea – believe me, I have spent enough hours already to find some free plans for you. And all I could find is on this page.

You can keep an eye to this site and subscribe by RSS because I plan to publish some free plans and more guides on building swing sets here pretty soon.

The Purpose Of Swing Set Accessories

Most accessories are made for wooden or plastic swings, there is less to add on a metal swing which is another reason to ask yourself twice whether you want to buy such. There are accessories which are especially for kid swing sets (most of them actually) and others who are appropriate only for adult and canopy swings (like pillows for example).

Fun Accessory Ideas

Enough talk, let me give you few examples about fun or useful swing set accessories that you can buy. You can click on the pictures to see them large along with more details about the accessories.

	We spoke about pillows few paragraphs above, so let’s see these pillows for example. The pillows are most appropriate for a hammock swing. They make it not only more comfortable but also a lot more stable and increase the sitting area. With such pillows a large enough hammock can let two adults swinging together at the same time.
	If you have a canopy swing you definitely need a cover. It will protect you and the canopy fabric from sunlight and will let you swing outside even when it’s slowly raining. Most canopy swings come assembled with a cover from the beginning, but it needs to be changed about once per year. The canopy swing covers usually cost between $50 and $150 depending on the quality of the fabric and the guarantee you are getting.
	What if your swing set is primary for kids? No problem, there are some very cool, simple and cheap toys you can add to offer them even more enjoyment. See for example this simple Swing-N-Slide Steering Wheel. Such toys cost $10 – $20 and can give so many new ideas for outdoor play for your children. When buying such a toy, better pick one made of plastic (durable polyethylene) instead of metal, because metal ones may bring you some troubles in case of rust.
	One slightly more expensive but a lot more useful toy is the Swing-N-Slide Climbing Rock. These climbing rocks fits best to wooden swings but there is no real reason (except the look) not to put attach them to a metal or plastic swing set. This accessory will stimulate more physical activity and may help you grow a mountaineer! Well, if nothing else, it’s a lot of fun.
	If you and your children like the idea of more active swinging and combining it with other sports, then Ring/Trapeze Combos are yet another great and very affordable accessory – usually costs just $20 – $30 and can be of such a great help for the kids physical growth. Such rings can be attached to any kind of swing set as long as it is high enough. Of course special attention to safety is required.
	If you have a baby but don’t want to buy a special toddler swing, don’t worry, you can still let it play on the set. There are excellent baby swing accessories that can be attached to the seat or directly to the main beam. The toddler accessories which allow additional protection with a belt or plastic border are much preferred because of the extra safety they provide.
	If you have more kids, gondolas are within the greatest accessories you can buy for their swing set. They are usually made of plastic with carbon steel frame and are appropriate for kids of age 3 and above. The gondolas can be attached to different kind of swing sets, but often only a specific gondola is for only some specific type of swing, so you need to check for compatibility when buying. Usually the gondolas cost $200 – $400 which makes them an expensive accessory.

Outdoor swing set maintenance is not a hard thing. It’s not going to occupy much of your time, neither is going to cost you a lot. Just do it regularly and you’ll have a long lasting swing set.

Tips For All Kinds Of Swing Sets

First and most important: take care for safety – your own, your children’s and the swing’s one. Here are few important actions about keeping the outdoor swing safe and in good condition:

• Regularly check chains, swings and slides for damages. Do replace every suspicious part immediately to avoid accidents.
• Don’t get out of the swing set while still in motion. Teach your children the same.
• Reduce exposure to rain and snow when possible. You can cover the swing with polythene or canvas when you don’t use it for a long time.
• Avoid staying close or walking around the swing when someone else uses it. This advice is very important for kids as they can get seriously injured by a swinging adult or even other kid.
• Dress appropriately. Long dresses, shoe-laces or belts can get caught into the chains and cause accidents. As usual, pay special attention to how kids are dressed when swinging.

Of course don’t get obsessed by the security – the swing sets are quite safe tools in general. I would say they are safer than bicycles or rollers.

Maintenance of different kinds of swing sets

Now, let’s really talk about maintenance. There are some specific actions to take in order to keep different kinds of outdoor swings in good shape:

• Wooden swing sets. They are not very pretentious. Take care to clean them each few months. Paint them each 1-2 years or when you see a need. Frequent painting will not only keep the overall look of the swing set great, but will also protect the wood from decay. (Learn more about wooden swing sets)
• Metal swing sets. They need regular threating against rust. Painting also helps just like with the wooden swings. Regularly check the puttings for holes – besides causing potential danger, these holes often are inhabited by inserts and wasps. (Learn more about metal swing sets)
• Plastic outdoor swings. They are very easy to maintain because they don’t need painting. Cleaning is easy and quick, just be careful what cleaning preparation you use. (Learn more about plastic swing sets)
• Canopy swing sets The canopy swings require special attention. The canopy fabric and the cushion can easy rot after rain or lose their color due to long hours under sun light. If you have a canopy swing build of special materials for outdoor usage (in most cases this will be true), you are partly protected. But still it’s good to take care covering the canopy and the cushion to protect them from rain, snow and too much sun. Frequently check the canopy for insects especially if you have animals in the garden. (Learn more about outdoor canopy swings)
• Outdoor baby swings. Your toddler swing needs careful and frequent cleaning as the babies don’t have strong immunity. Double check all the chains and ropes as well. (Learn more about outdoor baby swings)

As you can see there is not much to do but still the swing sets need to be taken care about once in a while.