Just a Swingin'

In Sensory Integration treatment (SI) for children with sensory processing dysfunction, we often use swinging on different mediums as ways to stimulate the vestibular-proprioceptive system. Vestibular processing gives our central nervous system information about our position in space, balance, and postural control. Often, children who have difficulty with vestibular processing have low muscle tone throughout their body, which means their overall endurance is low for activity (although strength for short duration muscle activity may be adequate). We often use swings, such as this platform swing, in SI to address these areas of function. The child may be positioned in standing/sitting/quadruped on the swing and the swing moved in different planes of movement (for example linear or orbital) depending on the child's needs.

Sometimes, the swing can be used to help calm children who are over stimulated. Linear and rhythmical movements tend to have a calming effect on us. Often times, if I have a child who needs to calm themselves a bit, I will place them on the swing and move it slowly. (Think of how many mothers have used rocking chairs to soothe a child...same concept).

In this video, I am teaching Chief to get used to the moving platform swing in preparation for him sitting on the swing with one of the kids. My goal is for him to be comfortable with being on the swing independent of me and the child either sitting or laying with him.

This is only the 3rd training session on the swing...and this was after having a week off from training. Shows you how quickly Chief has learned to trust me and enjoys his training. He really has an enormous amount of trust and self esteem that has developed through his training.

Tammy