What age can children learn to swing by themselves?

[TheLemur]

I am considering getting DS 3.2 a swing on ebay but not if it means I'll have to spend hours pushing him! So roughly what age can they be taught to move their legs back and forth to make themselves swing?

My DS has just learned to do this - he is 6 yrs! However one of my DD's friends is 3.6yrs and can use swing by herself.

Just depends on practice and individual child I guess...

Ds1 was 4.5.

It's great when it happens!

Dd1 was doing this not long after she turned 3 but has always been very physical.

My DS was 5, DD 3.

DD has just recently started being able to do this on her own. She has been trying for about 6 months, but gets frustrated, and in the last 2-3 weeks done it without assistance, much to her delight. She is just over 4.

DS can almost do it already he is so eager he is not quite a year! He can also almost take off when he bounces he loves it so much ! But I am sure he will unlearn it soon!

DS was 7, DD was 5

i started to teach dd as early as poss... [lazy mother emoticon] she knew what to do aged 2 but couldn't do it properly til she was 3 :)

That said they still wanted pushing for a while even though they could do it themselves

my 5yo dd learnt and taught 3yo ds recently.

so 3.2 should be physically capable soon if not already, it's just how quickly they manage to grasp it.

dd had a swing for her 3rd birthday and could swing herself straight away but at 3.3 she still cant get on the swing herself so has to be lifted on each time.

the bulky big seat swings are harder btw.. she found it easier on the type of swing that is just a length of rubber iyswim? she still finds it hard aged 5 to swing herself on the ones like a little cage! am i making myself clear?

DS (4.6) can sort of do it but mostly can't be bothered so I have to spend bloody ages pushing the damn thing. he has loads of other garden toys too but it's always the swing that he wants to go on.

Thanks all, very interesting range of ages and insights

Yes MrsRhett I get what you mean! This is just a plastic seat swing rather than a cage.

I think I will put a bid in but not too high!