Swing

Physical Benefits of Swinging
Swinging is the type of activity that helps children develop gross motor skills. Running and jumping onto swings, pushing other swingers, pumping legs to gain height and jumping out of swings all aid with locomotion, balance and coordination skills.
Swings also gently develop muscle strength and fine motor skills. Balancing on a swing seat can strengthen the core. Holding on to the cord or chain of a swing strengthens grip strength and finger coordination – an essential milestone for children learning to write.
 
Cognitive Benefits of Swinging
For very young or developmentally challenged children, swinging especially helps with sensory integration. Sensory integration incorporates spatial awareness and inner ear balance. Stimulating the senses through swinging gives the child’s brain practice at organizing and interpreting spatial information, providing a foundation for complex learning and behavior later.
In fact, the rocking motion of swinging stimulates the part of the brain that helps you focus, the cerebral cortex. Research has shown that students are more focused and ready to learn after recess. And the twisting and untwisting of swings or spinning on tire swings stimulates additional areas of the brain that are important pathways for skills like spatial awareness, balance, muscle control and rhythm.