Balance swing: what is and how to do it yourself?

The swing balancer is a kind of children's street attractions. Two or more children can ride it at the same time. This kind of entertainment is considered quite safe, so even the smallest children can ride, but with the support of adults. Therefore, such a swing can be a good tool for practicing with children in their own backyard.

The principle of operation of the structure is to use the effect of overweight, as in conventional beam scales. Therefore, this type of swing is also called "rocker", "swing-weights" and "swing-pendulum". The basic parts of the simplest design are the seats and support. A board is usually used as a seat, and an ordinary log can serve as a support. If the weight of the children is more or less the same, then after pushing off the ground, the swing will alternately be outweighed on different sides of the board, and the children will rise and fall in turn. The advantage of this attraction is that children in a relaxed manner learn to interact with each other, communication, play together and work. In addition, the vestibular apparatus, muscles and coordination of movements are trained.

Despite the general principle of operation of balancing children's swing, there are several of their varieties.

• Classic swing balancer. The most common and simplest option is a construction that resembles a scale - it consists of a board with seats and a support to which this board is attached. Children, sitting on opposite edges of the board and swinging, create overbalances.

• Spring balancer. This option is considered more suitable for younger children under 5 years of age. It has a small swinging amplitude, so this variety is the safest for babies. In addition, a minimum of effort is required from the child, it is only necessary to keep balance. The structure consists of a seat, which is fixed on a vertically mounted spring.

• Swing from tires. This is a short-lived option due to the fact that tires wear out quickly. During construction, they can be used both as a central support and act as shock absorbers at the ends of the board.

• Double. This type of swing combines two classic options. Boards with seats are located on the same base. It is important that there is sufficient distance between the two boards for safe riding.

• Paired. This type is an improved classic swing balancer. On the board for skating there are not two seats, but several - this allows you to simultaneously accommodate three or four children. In this regard, the main plank-board must be more durable in order to withstand the possible load.

• Swivel. In another way, these swings are also called "spinning". The most difficult version of a street balancing swing, both for building and for rolling. The movement in such a swing occurs not only up and down, but also in a circle. Therefore, children will need more developed motor skills and better coordination of movements.

For the manufacture of such a swing, it is possible to use various materials. The three main ones are metal, wood and plastic. Each has its own pros and cons.

• Metal. Swing made of this material is the most durable and durable.However, it is most difficult to design them with your own hands - you will need a special welding tool and skills to work with it. In addition, this option is the most traumatic for children.

• Wood. The most suitable option for self-production, and you can use both boards and logs. It is easier to work with them than with metal - wood is more accessible, it is easy to process and cut out the necessary parts with an improvised tool. And most importantly, a swing made of wood is safer for children. They are environmentally friendly and lighter than metal swings, so there is much less risk of injury if you fall.

• Plastic. Such designs are sold ready-made, so the whole process comes down to buying a ready-made kit and assembling it on its own according to the instructions.

A swing balancer can become a real masterpiece, despite their simplest design. If you wish, you can arrange them in the general style of the landscape on the site. The easiest option would be to paint it in different colors. Swings in the form of all kinds of animals - horses, bears, fish, butterflies, or in the form of cars and airplanes will be interesting for children. You can paint the swing with characters from your favorite cartoons. The steering wheel or steering wheel as handles will interest and please children.

The simple design of the balancer makes it available for DIY manufacturing. There can be many options, but the most popular and affordable are the classic wooden swing scales. The work algorithm is simple:

• necessary measurements;
• strength calculation;
• preparation of materials;
• support installation;
• production of the main strip;
• manufacturing of seats;
• installation of depreciation.

First you need to decide on the dimensions and make drawings. There are no generally accepted standards, so it is necessary to adhere only to recommendations and individual characteristics. The length of the main plank is on average 260-270 centimeters in the case of a double swing. In a paired design for a larger number of seats, the length of the board should be increased.

The height of the support affects the load and swing amplitude. The lower it is, the less load falls on the structure. And the higher, the more interesting the attraction for children will be. When calculating the maximum seat height, it is recommended to take into account the child's height. The approximate value is 100 cm. This is the safest height in the event of a fall. The approximate width of the seat itself is 30 cm, the length is 40 cm, the height of the handles is about 20 cm, and the backrest is 25 cm.

Depending on the expected load, it is necessary to calculate the strength of the swing. This takes into account not only the weight of children, but also the fact that several people can climb on them at once, they can swing while standing. In addition, children grow up and in order for the swing to serve longer, you need to make it with a good load capacity.

A wooden swing can be constructed from logs or blocks. The first method is easier to manufacture, the second will require some carpentry skills. The best material is oak, but it is more difficult to work with it because of the dense wood, and it costs more. For these reasons, pine is commonly used for swings.

To install the support, bars, logs or hemp are buried in the ground and concreted.To prevent the tree from starting to rot, it is important to pre-treat it with special means. Thus, a stationary structure is obtained.

Portable swing balancers can also be made. For such a support, you need to make two racks (left and right), a longitudinal and transverse struts, a thrust board and a cover. All parts must be connected to each other according to the diagram. You will get a stable support with a rectangular base. For greater stability, you can supplement it with any weighting materials or attach it to the ground in a way that does not interfere with transfer.

To mount the main strip, you will need a board that will be installed on the support along with the seats, as well as a bar for stiffening ribs, stops and handles. The first step is to sand all parts of the rocker arm to prevent possible injury from the untreated wood surface. The attachment points for screws and hardware must be checked for sharp parts and cracks where a child can stick his fingers. It is advisable to make the corners of the plank slightly rounded on the side.

To fix the plank to the support, you need to clearly determine the center of the board, otherwise you will not be able to ride comfortably. It is not necessary to install the seats on the board, you can sit along the edges of the board. But the presence of seats will create additional comfort. For the manufacture of seats, you can use plastic, plywood, felt, foam rubber. Hard seats can protrude beyond the edges of the main plank, so in this case you can take a narrower one - this will not affect ride comfort.

It is recommended to make seats made of soft materials removable so that they can be removed in case of rain. At the same time, they must be fastened very firmly - not twist or stagger, so that children do not fall while riding. Backs are also optional, but very young children with backs will find it more comfortable to ride. If there are old plastic chairs, then the seat can be made of them - cut off the legs and attach to the bar using self-tapping screws.

The function of the shock absorbers is to soften the landing. Otherwise, a sharp descent from a height of one meter can injure the spine. Shock absorbers can be rubber cushions, resilient metal products, or old car tires. These parts are installed either under the board on the back of the seats, or in the ground where the swing lands. After the swing is fully assembled, it can be painted, varnished and decorated.

The use of a swing balancer must first of all be safe for the child. In this regard, all consumables must be non-toxic so as not to harm health. The paint must be chosen for outdoor use. Metal parts can be lubricated with anti-corrosion agents.

The installation site of the swing should be level and regularly free from prickly or poisonous vegetation., as well as the one that can provoke allergies. There should not be any reservoirs and communications nearby either. During operation, it is recommended to check the state of the structure for defects. Over time, cracks and roughness may form in the device - they must be eliminated in a timely manner.

With a little effort, correctly calculating the design parameters and building a swing-balancer with your own hands, you can get a perky children's laughter as a reward. The most successful options for various types are shown in the photo.

For information on how to make a swing-balancer with your own hands, see the next video.