All They Want To Do Is Swing!

[itlw8]

my 2 1/2 yr olds can all pump/ I would not push anyone. the littles can swing on their tummies. use a time to take turns and stop pushing. They will still love the swings but YOU can do other things.happyface

[DCBlessings27]

I had a similar problem once I got the swingset last summer. They all fought over the swings. So, I just stopped pushing them. They've learned to get on their tummies or swing alone and do so just fine. I have almost all the same stuff as the OP. My playset is a really large one with a playhouse attached on one end. They love the play house. I also have a picnic table, 3 cozy coupes, trikes, shopping cart, 2 colorful slide/climbers, mowers, wagons, etc. With all the other toys, I didn't understand why they all wanted to swing.

I stay with them on the pea gravel play area for awhile while they play then wander to my patio and they migrate over to play with the cars and other toys. Occasionally I will push for a little while and give everyone a turn. Then, I "turn" pushing off; I just stop and say no more for the day. I've been known to ask them play "dumb" and ask them to show me how the slide works. They get excited to climb up onto the area and wave to me before going down the slide. My playset looks like this one except with a playhouse instead of climbing area. http://www.swing-n-slide.com/178-Loo...-Play-Set.aspx

[Blackcat31]

I would let them play wherever they want! Your yard sounds great! Stop pushing them and maybe they will get owed and move on

That was supposed to be "bored" not "owed"... Stupid auto correct

I thought you were trying to say "mowed" as in "mowed over" when the little ones walk in front of the big ones while swinging! ::::

[MrsB]

I thought you were trying to say "mowed" as in "mowed over" when the little ones walk in front of the big ones while swinging! ::::

:::::::: I'm glad I am not the only one that thought that! Sounded like a good plan to me.

[daycare]

I had a similar problem once I got the swingset last summer. They all fought over the swings. So, I just stopped pushing them. They've learned to get on their tummies or swing alone and do so just fine. I have almost all the same stuff as the OP. My playset is a really large one with a playhouse attached on one end. They love the play house. I also have a picnic table, 3 cozy coupes, trikes, shopping cart, 2 colorful slide/climbers, mowers, wagons, etc. With all the other toys, I didn't understand why they all wanted to swing.

I stay with them on the pea gravel play area for awhile while they play then wander to my patio and they migrate over to play with the cars and other toys. Occasionally I will push for a little while and give everyone a turn. Then, I "turn" pushing off; I just stop and say no more for the day. I've been known to ask them play "dumb" and ask them to show me how the slide works. They get excited to climb up onto the area and wave to me before going down the slide. My playset looks like this one except with a playhouse instead of climbing area. http://www.swing-n-slide.com/178-Loo...-Play-Set.aspx

how do you allow play time on that kind of a set? I would freak out that one of the kids would fall off of the top area or one would get pushed off? Or as other mentioned get mowed over by the swingers?? (not sure what that means?) Knocked over??

[Blackcat31]

Or as other mentioned get mowed over by the swingers?? (not sure what that means?) Knocked over??

yep....mowed over=knocked down

...you are getting really good at interpreting all this slang stuff !!

[nannyde]

I don't have outdoor play equipment so I don't have any experience with the swing thing but I do know as a general child care rule that whenever the kids are fixating on ANYTHING I'm doing the wrong thing.

If you watch what they highly covet you will see within it something you are doing wrong. If they insisit on anything and if they guard any resource you are doing it wrong. If they require an adult for their minute to minute happiness you are doing it wrong. If anything in their environment hinders them from true FREE play you are doing it wrong. The VAST majority of their minute to minute needs to be what they can do with each other and by themselves. That's how nature designed them. We just get in the way with nature and our mistakes become their fixations.

[DCBlessings27]

how do you allow play time on that kind of a set? I would freak out that one of the kids would fall off of the top area or one would get pushed off? Or as other mentioned get mowed over by the swingers?? (not sure what that means?) Knocked over??

The kids I have in care are 13months,2,3,3,3, & 4. The older ones know not to swing if the 13month is near the swing area. He is not allowed on the playset. As to the tower, I tell them that they have to take turns before climbing up. I don't allow more than 2 at a time on the top deck. I only allow sliding down on bottoms. I haven't had any trouble with the kids pushing on it or falling.

[JenNJ]

If they obsess over the swings, I close them down for the day. Same goes for slide, baseball, chalk, etc. If fights erupt or arguing starts, I close it down.

[Crystal]

I'm completely opposite about the "obsessing" with the swings. I have four kids who LOVE the swings. Inevitably two get the swings the second we step outside, and they usually swing the entire time we are outdoors. There are times that they give up their swing because they want to, but I never make them.....just as with any other toy, if they had it, they don't have to "share" it until they are finished with it. I also never have any arguments over the swings because they are used to the hard and fast rule of "if you want it, you ask for it, if they say no, let em' know you want it when they are done"

I allow it because they are my little thrill seekers and giving them unlimited access to the swings tends to calm them. They also thoroughly enjoy swinging, I LOVE to hear their squeals of delight and their exctiement when they reach the highest point they can swing. They taught themselves by 2 years old how to pump their legs ( I don't push them) and I have no desire to control their behavior over swings if there is no fighting, pushing, shoving, etc. to get one.

[SilverSabre25]

I'm completely opposite about the "obsessing" with the swings. I have four kids who LOVE the swings. Inevitably two get the swings the second we step outside, and they usually swing the entire time we are outdoors. There are times that they give up their swing because they want to, but I never make them.....just as with any other toy, if they had it, they don't have to "share" it until they are finished with it. I also never have any arguments over the swings because they are used to the hard and fast rule of "if you want it, you ask for it, if they say no, let em' know you want it when they are done"

I allow it because they are my little thrill seekers and giving them unlimited access to the swings tends to calm them. They also thoroughly enjoy swinging, I LOVE to hear their squeals of delight and their exctiement when they reach the highest point they can swing. They taught themselves by 2 years old how to pump their legs ( I don't push them) and I have no desire to control their behavior over swings if there is no fighting, pushing, shoving, etc. to get one.

I handle things this exact same way, with any toy. I do remind the "haver" that someone else is waiting for the swing/toy/book/etc, but it is still up to them.

Unfortunately most of my dcps (all of my dcps I think!) handle sharing the "traditional" way. "She wants it, you have to share!" so they relinquish something the instant someone asks. *sigh*

[mac60]

I can't imagine that amount of stuff in my backyard. I don't think my neighbors would be too happy with it and my hubby would not want to mow around it. I also don't have swings anymore due to kids getting hit by swingers. It only took a couple years of doing childcare to figure out that swings and a group of preschoolers don't mix well. I personally don't feel that little ones need all that "stuff" to play. Even today the daycare kids here have a lot more "stuff" than my own kids ever did. As far as swinging them, I wouldn't do it either. They would either have to learn themselves or find something else to do.

[busymommy0420]

I don't have outdoor play equipment so I don't have any experience with the swing thing but I do know as a general child care rule that whenever the kids are fixating on ANYTHING I'm doing the wrong thing.

If you watch what they highly covet you will see within it something you are doing wrong. If they insisit on anything and if they guard any resource you are doing it wrong. If they require an adult for their minute to minute happiness you are doing it wrong. If anything in their environment hinders them from true FREE play you are doing it wrong. The VAST majority of their minute to minute needs to be what they can do with each other and by themselves. That's how nature designed them. We just get in the way with nature and our mistakes become their fixations.

Sorry but I took this as very harsh! I do not feel I am doing anything WRONG by kindly pushing the two year olds. I will take the others advice and maybe put the swings away for a bit. Children learn from example and can't just be left to figure everything out themselves. I like to show LOVE, patience and nurture to my daughters and the kids I care for.

[busymommy0420]

I can't imagine that amount of stuff in my backyard. I don't think my neighbors would be too happy with it and my hubby would not want to mow around it. I also don't have swings anymore due to kids getting hit by swingers. It only took a couple years of doing childcare to figure out that swings and a group of preschoolers don't mix well. I personally don't feel that little ones need all that "stuff" to play. Even today the daycare kids here have a lot more "stuff" than my own kids ever did. As far as swinging them, I wouldn't do it either. They would either have to learn themselves or find something else to do.

I love having a variety. I have a small area all fenced in with no grass, all rubber mulch so no maintenance. The fence is four feet high so no one can see a single colorful item at all. It is the perfect playground within my .50 acre yard.

[nannyde]

Sorry but I took this as very harsh! I do not feel I am doing anything WRONG by kindly pushing the two year olds. I will take the others advice and maybe put the swings away for a bit. Children learn from example and can't just be left to figure everything out themselves. I like to show LOVE, patience and nurture to my daughters and the kids I care for.

Oh I didn't mean it in a harsh way. It's just MY philosophy. I should have worded it with "I" instead of "you". I started it out right and then switched to "you".

I'll try it again:

I don't have outdoor play equipment so I don't have any experience with the swing thing but I do know as a general child care rule that whenever the kids are fixating on ANYTHING I'm doing the wrong thing.

If I watch what they highly covet I see within it something I'm doing wrong. If they insisit on anything and if they guard any resource I'm doing it wrong. If they require an adult for their minute to minute happiness I'm doing it wrong. If anything in their environment hinders them from true FREE play I'm doing it wrong. The VAST majority of their minute to minute needs to be what they can do with each other and by themselves. That's how nature designed them. We just get in the way with nature and our mistakes become their fixations.

So within MY system of supervision and correction I use this philosophy.