Tricks to teaching a kid to swing on their own?

[Tap]

Dd2 is almost 3 and loves to swing. She weighs 38lbs, and wears size 4-5 so she has the size and weight to do it. But, she requires a pusher, which isn't always possible. I have tried teaching her the in and out but she doesn't get it. Does anyone have a trick?

[ChristusG]

MY DD is 5 years old and I still cannot get her to understand how to swing on her own. She's not the most coordinated child in the world so she cannot seem to get her body in sync to do both motions at once.

[Jen500]

My kids didn't learn until about age 4. My youngest learned by watching his older brothers while they were on the swingset together.

[Brooketopia]

My kids are swing and tricycle retarded. I have given up hope.

 

My main thing with the swing is teaching them to not run behind them...you'd think the bloody noses and bruised heinies would teach them, but no.

[Sunshine State Sue]

I would stand in front of ds with my hands stretched out in front of him just out of reach and tell him to try to kick (or reach) my hands with his feet. A fun game to give him some incentive.

[athena1277]

My kids are swing and tricycle retarded. I have given up hope.

 

LOL! My dd can't quite figure those out either!

[whitestavern]

Try telling them to put their legs up when they are going up and put their legs back when they go back. Sounds simple enough, but wording it this way helped my kids. I think they were both between 3 and 4 when they learned.

[ChristusG]

My kids are swing and tricycle retarded. I have given up hope.

 

My main thing with the swing is teaching them to not run behind them...you'd think the bloody noses and bruised heinies would teach them, but no.

 

Oh my gosh, I just busted out laughing!!!! Swing and tricycle retarted LOL.

[Photo Ninja]

I told my dc to bend their legs back when they swing back and to point their legs forward when they swing forward. Once this become a habit, they can learn to feel how to shift their weight and lean back a bit when they point their legs forward and to lean forward to help their legs bend to the back as they swing backward.

[gardening momma]

I told my dc to bend their legs back when they swing back and to point their legs forward when they swing forward.

:iagree: "Forward. Back. Forward. Back. Forward. Back." is what I said over and over and over to dd5 while I stood behind her and gave her additional pushes when needed. She still couldn't get herself started or keep herself going. Then two of her slightly older cousins came to visit for a few days. She observed them, and then she got it! Woo hoo!

[Stacie]

Can they rock in a rocking chair? I taught mine by telling them it's like rocking in a rocking chair. It worked, but before I came up with that one I was thinking along the same lines of MrsBrooke!

[gardening momma]

Remind them to lean back slightly when kicking the legs out going forward, and then to sit back up when they tuck their legs when going backward. Give them a little push to get them going. Good luck!

I tried that at first, but it was too much to think about for her, so we just concentrated on the legwork.

[newlifemom]

My kids are swing and tricycle retarded. I have given up hope.

 

 

 

 

:lol:

 

 

I think it really differs from child to child. My now 6 yr old dd was fully swinging on her own by 3. NONE, of my other children did that. Not even my son, who I think is pretty coordinated. As for my firstborn, let's just say we are working towards a music scholarship.:D

[Ellie]

Well, you know, I'd show her the swing and say "Have fun," and walk away. She'll figure it out eventually on her own.

[Quad Shot Academy]

I have found it is easiest to sit in a swing by them and say "fall back" while making exaggerated movements like you are falling out of your swing and then "pull yourself up." I do this a few days, give them some good pushes and a reminder about "falling back and pulling up" for a few days and then I walk away. When they get motivated they will figure it out.

[Retired]

I taught both my boys by sitting in the swing with them in my laps. I took it really slow and let them fill my hand pressure pulling the chains and my leg motions. They learned pretty quick. I also taught several kids in my sunday school class

[moki4]

Toes to the sky (as they are swinging up)... Up up up!

Back towards your bottom! As they come down...

This worked for all 4 kids

HTH:001_smile:

[milovany]

I would stand in front of ds with my hands stretched out in front of him just out of reach and tell him to try to kick (or reach) my hands with his feet. A fun game to give him some incentive.

 

This is exactly what I do. I get them going with pushes, then get in front and put my hand out. They love trying to reach mamma's hand. After they touch my hand, I say, "Feet under!" and they put them under. "Touch!" as they come forward again (repeat, 50,674 times).

[elise1mds]

:lol:

 

 

I think it really differs from child to child. My now 6 yr old dd was fully swinging on her own by 3. NONE, of my other children did that. Not even my son, who I think is pretty coordinated. As for my firstborn, let's just say we are working towards a music scholarship.:D

 

 

I kind of agree with this one, that it varies by child. My DS just figured it out this summer; DD had it down out last fall. I had worked with her far less because I kind of expected her to follow in DS's footsteps. Love it when my kids shoot down preconceived notions!