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Original poster

Any of your children can't stand swings/rocking/trampoline?

16 replies

Return2thebasic · 29/04/2022 14:40

DS2 is nearly 3. He never liked swing. Because of the pandemic (lockdown and etc.), obviously he's only exposed to swing probably just before he turned 2. I tried to encourage him go on the swing each time when we go to the playground. He usually would accept my offer. But he rarely looked up when in swing and always called for a stop within one minute. When I tried to encourage him give it a bit more time, he really didn't seem to be able to relax and enjoy in the upwards/downwards movement.

He doesn't like trampolines either or things spins fast. As if he fears of losing control of his own body/movement. Not rocking horse too.

He only started to like seesaw if nobody else is on the other side so that he has the full control of the movement.

He's otherwise very bold and brave. He doesn't mind wall climbing or walking on very tall tree logs

I read something about "Gravitational insecurity". Does anyone have any experience of it?

OP posts:
riverpebbles · 29/04/2022 14:54

My daughter (15) has just had a course of occupational therapy for gravitational insecurity. It was brilliant and has helped loads with clumsiness, activation of core muscles, feelings of instability, and generally calmed her nervous system down a bit so she is less reactive. It involved assessment and then about six-eight sessions of very controlled swinging in an indoor soft play type therapeutic environment. I'd suggest you get him seen sooner than later as getting his vestibular system treated will open doors for him later.

Original poster
Return2thebasic · 29/04/2022 15:19

riverpebbles · 29/04/2022 14:54

My daughter (15) has just had a course of occupational therapy for gravitational insecurity. It was brilliant and has helped loads with clumsiness, activation of core muscles, feelings of instability, and generally calmed her nervous system down a bit so she is less reactive. It involved assessment and then about six-eight sessions of very controlled swinging in an indoor soft play type therapeutic environment. I'd suggest you get him seen sooner than later as getting his vestibular system treated will open doors for him later.

@riverpebbles , thank you so much for sharing! Did you go through NHS referral? If so how did you make the request?

Or via private path? Any recommendation on how to approach this? I can't believe people would take me seriously, especially DS2 is extremely agile when running (avoid any obstacles on the way effortlessly). Not that he's clumsy enough to be concerned/seen for. Just the gravitation side of insecurity.

Would really appreciate some more details..

OP posts:
JuneOsborne · 29/04/2022 15:22

My Ds has never liked swings. We took him to our towns festival and the had a people powered swing, it's like a boat. All his mates were going in it, so he did. He was as sick as dog afterwards. And that was the last time he went on any kind of swing.

I just figured he doesn't like it.

He is also like me, I get vertigo at the thought of being spun round, he's the same.

I just thought it was the way we are...

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MzHz · 29/04/2022 15:32

My ds was like that!

put him on it in one of those coin operated things outside shops he’d be happy as Larry.

put money in it…. “Want. Off…. NOW”

every time.

the LOOKS I got from other parents thinking I was being tight not putting money in!

likewise, swings.

every picture of him on a swing or similar has his arm outstretched wanting “Off… Now” I’m told it’s a blessing not to have to stand and push for sodding hours

the huge blow up slide thing at the funfair? Against my better judgment I paid the guy £3-pounds-sodding-50

30 seconds later I have to struggle up the damned thing to go and get him. Can I get a refund? Of course I bloody can’t…

my ds is now enormous, about to finish secondary school and loves all kinds of activities, he’s fine on everything!

riverpebbles · 29/04/2022 15:38

I went private. I had a chat with an OT who does sensory integration and praxis assessments and took it from there.

The NHS might do it in your area but I don't really know if you have to go through the GP or if you can self refer.

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 29/04/2022 15:50

My ds was similar to MzHz's dc. Didn't really like swing etc. I don't know when it changed, but now he's in secondary, and loves anything adventurous.

MzHz · 29/04/2022 15:57

Main thing, it’s probably something he’ll grow out of.

timestheyarechanging · 29/04/2022 23:14

I'm like this - I'm 51 now and never liked swings (i don't even like seeing them, although I did push my daughter swings as she liked them, but I didn't like it) or anything that swung me round, or up and down, like waltzers at the funfair.
I hated having 'the bumps' at my birthday parties and would ask my mum not to let it happen. I Could never go on a roller coaster.
My now adult son is the same. My mum is too. Daughter loves it all!
I put mine down to low blood pressure.

InkyPinkyParlez · 29/04/2022 23:31

Have you got some very small, gross motor toys that he could use to explore this sensation? I don't know, maybe a ride on toy or something that rocks but is very low to the ground, his height. He might need to work up to a big swing off the ground.

he's very very little. Other 2 year olds, even before lockdown, would have fears of eg balloons, buttons, hand dryers, showers, certain food textures, paint. All sensory issues that most of them will get over in a few years. Some need more help, but it seems a bit early now to worry.

PerseverancePays · 30/04/2022 19:30

Get his eyes checked, it could be a visual thing.

gargantu · 30/04/2022 20:30

It could be absolutely nothing and he just hates them, but as the PP suggested are his eyes ok? Apparently I used to absolutely hate swings when I was very small. It wasn't obvious in other ways, but it turns out my eyesight was absolutely terrible.

Original poster
Return2thebasic · 01/05/2022 11:33

InkyPinkyParlez · 29/04/2022 23:31

Have you got some very small, gross motor toys that he could use to explore this sensation? I don't know, maybe a ride on toy or something that rocks but is very low to the ground, his height. He might need to work up to a big swing off the ground.

he's very very little. Other 2 year olds, even before lockdown, would have fears of eg balloons, buttons, hand dryers, showers, certain food textures, paint. All sensory issues that most of them will get over in a few years. Some need more help, but it seems a bit early now to worry.

@InkyPinkyParlez , thank you so much for sharing the insight! It's hard to know when to worry sometimes, as we all have some quirky aspect different from others and they aren't always an issue. Age is another factor that only very experienced (professional) could set apart.

I bought a wobble board thinking to help with him and his big brother (he's on the opposite side craving for sensory inputs like that). But I managed to squeeze my thumb really badly when playing together with the little one. Since then, I'm a bit hesitant to put out now... Maybe something different like an indoor bouncer...

Thanks for the reassurance!

OP posts:
Original poster
Return2thebasic · 01/05/2022 11:38

@PerseverancePays , @gargantu , thanks for the tips. I don't think that's the case for him though. He can always spot things that we'd rather he didn't see (like a pack of chocolate on the far end of the room!) Lol~

OP posts:
LadyJaneHall · 01/05/2022 13:26

I suffer from motion/travel sickness and used to get this on swings and similar things so it is possible your son has this.

InkyPinkyParlez · 02/05/2022 11:04

Thanks for not taking it that I was dismissing you!

Something like this springs to mind - very stable, small and safe, only moves in one dimension. garden toy

My kids went to a nursery that was huge on children having independence. They had swings, but rather than toddler seats they put normal, flat seats almost down the the ground. It looked really odd, but the idea was the children could explore them themselves and stay in control.

CMOTDibbler · 02/05/2022 11:08

I really don't like them, also slides. At a guess, for me it is because I have an unstable squint and anything with more random motion really messes up my eye tracking and I'm moving in 3D and seeing in 2D. But at 49 it hasn't had any negative effects on my life and I drive perfectly well, cycle and so on

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