Question 1

What is a Sensory Room?

Accepted Answer

As you probably know: A Sensory Room is a room, or a quiet spot somewhere in the house, with all kinds of items (therapy tools, toys, decorations) which are helpful in decreasing sensory overload.
 
To be honest, not so long ago I thought a Sensory Room was just too much, too overdone. Little by little I realized that Sensory Integration Therapy, like once a week, is doing my son very well, but he actually needs it every day. Sometimes even more times a day. And I kept on hearing and reading encouraging stories of other parents. I just had to give it a try.
 
It is more wonderful than I imagined. The room is our very special spot with very special rules. The kids call it the ‘Swing Room’ because they love swinging the most. The room even has another name: the ‘Whisper Room’. When one child is relaxing on a swing, we don’t need to have the other kids running and racing around, how much fun that can be. So, the time in the Swing Room is one of quiet. When one of the kids is swinging, the others are sitting cozily on a soft mattress with some cushions, re

ading books, and they all enjoy this ‘quiet time’! Often I play a CD with nice soft music, the light is not bright (definitely no fluorescent lighting) and the colors in the room are soft toned.
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My room is ‘simple’ but nice and peaceful with the least distractions. I still have a list of things I want to add, like a lavalamp and an indoor trampoline, but ‘simple’ as it may be, the room is already a success.

Question 2

How do I secure my swing?

Accepted Answer

We advise to get a piece of sturdy carpet to catch all 4 legs, or  2 legs of the Swing-Swing
Carpet comes 12' wide, for a VLF you will need at least 14'  length  for a 12' x 14' minimum. 12 x 12 for the HD-120 and 10 x 10 for the HPSI and Homestand II.
 
This will stop the legs from moving independently.
However the force of the swinging may still be enough for the carpet to move on a wood or tile floor.
 
In that case get 4 non-slip rubber furniture pads  4" square that you can get from most any hardware store or online thru  ebay or amazon.
 
Putting these  under the carpet directly under each leg foot, between the carpet and floor. This should keep your swing stand in place.

Question 3

What are the benefits of swinging?

Accepted Answer

Swinging as therapy is a component of Sensory Integration therapy.
 
What is Sensory Integration?
 
Sensory experiences include touch, movement, body awareness, sight, sound and the pull of gravity. The process of the brain organizing and interpreting this information is called sensory integration. Sensory integration provides a crucial foundation for later, more complex learning and behavior.
 
For most children, sensory integration develops in the course of ordinary childhood activities. Motor planning ability is a natural outcome of the process, as is the ability to adapt to incoming sensations. But for some children, sensory integration does not develop as efficiently as it should. When the process is disordered, a number of problems in learning, development, or behavior may become evident.

Question 4

What are the dynamics of swinging?

Accepted Answer

Some important information about the dynamics of swinging and keeping a portable swing frame stable.
 
As our therapy swing frames are now being used more for a post adolescent population, we want to address the needs of these older swingers who are also stronger, heavier, and (hopefully) more independent.
 
Keeping a swing frame stable and safe is effected by 3 main dynamics of swinging:
  +Combined weight of swinger and swing
  +Radius of the arc (length of rope)
  +Force of the swinging (how high up they are swinging
Also, please note; the more slick the floor the more likely the legs will wander.
 
Your overview; what kind of swinging are you looking for and how big are the people, for now and in the future, who will be using the equipment? The vigorous swinging of an older heavy person will need a sturdier frame. Another heavy person may need only slight motion and can do well with either a Homestand II or HPSI frame.
 
For instance, here is a picture of several kids, about 650 Lbs total on the Homestand II. The frame is taking the weight, but the swinging is very light. This is very static swinging, back and forth well within the spread of the legs. Also, note the Plywood Platform swing is about 2 feet off the ground for a shorter radius and the legs are less likely to move around in the front lawn. On the same setup a 50 or 60 lb. child on a light weight swing (like the 20 Lb Plywood Platform pictured here) can pretty much have any safe swinging movement they desire, even on a hardwood floor, just don’t bang into the legs. A 150 lb person can swing just to the spread of the legs, go outside and the frame will want to shift. Here we are most concerned with swinging front to back. Circular swinging (not spinning) like on a tire swing is not recommended, the frame will shift and feel unstable. However both the frames are made for spinning off the center swivel.
 
So, we have decided to be more prudent and lower the weight capabilities of the Homestand II, to now 250 Lbs and the HPSI model is now 275 Lbs. and to develop the VLF model portable swing frame to address the needs of this growing population. The VLF (Very Large Frame) is twice as wide, a little taller, heavier, still portable, and built to take a variety of swinging motions.
 
With this important explanation of stability we hope you can make a better informed choice and enjoy a safer swinging experience with equipment that will work for you now and in the future .
 
Now that you’re an expert in choosing a swing frame, you must visit our store and explore our selections. Of course, you can also contact us by email or phone if you have any questions on how to proceed.

Question 5

How do I know which to choose?

Accepted Answer

A few things you will want to consider are who the frame is for and how it will be used. we have some helpful categories that will let you what will be best for your circumstance.
 
The categories are: 
-Suitable for Adults or Good for Juniors
-Easy setup or Needs Installation
-Portable or Mounted
 
Download our Help me Choose PDF  for more information.

Question 6

What is a Portable Swing Frame?

Accepted Answer

A Guide for Understanding Portable Swing Frames And helpful information for choosing the swing frame you need
 
We, at Take a Swing, set out to develop a swing frame for adult and commercial clients. It needed to be heavy and heavy weight instead of large and space taking. I wanted it to support 600 swinging Lbs., while able to accommodate a motorized wheelchair, platform, and any size user.  
When put together it would feel sturdy like a rock for vigorous swinging helping the user to    capture that split-second of weightlessness which is so much part of the beauty of swinging. The Swing All is all that. 
Stability is an understatement.

Some of the dynamics that affect the stability  and performance of a portable swing frame  
1. Combined weight of swinger and swing seat 
2. Robustness of the swinging 
3. Length of the swinging arc (length of rope or  chain to the seat) 
4. Gravitational force of the swinging (how high up  they are swinging) 
5. Physical set-up of the swing stand (on carpet,  hardwood, tile, indoors or out, etc.)

Portable swing frames are not like playground swings  
 What is most obvious about a portable swing frame is that it is portable. It sets on a floor,  without the stability of legs that are dug into the ground. (We are talking here of stand alone swing frames, not multi-piece play sets that are generally short and somewhat secure by the nature of the space they take up.) With portable frames much more depends on the  circumstances. How much the swinger and seat weighs, what size swing frame, and how robust the swinging is very important because swinging builds momentum (see note #1) which     affects the integrity and safety of the frame. A heavier swinger on a tall frame has more effect than a light person.

Balancing a full swinging experience with safety and stability is the  main challenge for 
portable adult or commercial swing frames.   
OK, try picturing an adult or older teenager swinging from a hook in your home with a standard 8’ ceiling. Picture them robustly swinging (remove any walls they may bang into as you picture) like they are on an outdoor swing. You would clearly not want to be in their way. You would be bowled over. That is momentum. Now lower the hook just 2 feet with a seat that is 24 to about 30 inches from the floor  (like a porch swing) so the rope to the seat is only about 3’ feet.      
By adjusting just this one aspect, the whole  situation changes. There isn’t nearly enough rope to gain much  momentum, even for a 300 Lbs. person.  (See note  #2  &  the pictures below) 
    Another aspect of this is if the swinger is being pushed or is self-swinging. If you are doing the pushing then you can control the tempo. So, if it is a heavy person, you can keep them swinging inside the span of the legs to keep the swinging stable. If you let the person self-swing then you have little control. For self-swinging, the swinger needs to be aware of the limits of that particular swing stand. 
    We at Take a Swing have seen the myriad of problems our customers have faced over the years and we needed to    address them. (Take a Swing has been making stand-alone, portable, and multi-use swing frames for over 20 years.)     Depending on the design, a portable frame can be dangerous if used incorrectly. They can wobble at the top of the frame, make a squeaking noise and a messy greasy build up where swing hangers are, they may not conform to the floor and tend to rock. They can be so light weight that almost any movement can make them tip or they may just look and feel very unsafe. Also, with vigorous swinging it can slide around a slick floor (like tile or hardwood) or dangerously lift off the floor. Also, assembly can be difficult and time consuming.

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You can get an idea here. 
Even little kids like on the  
left can do some damage  
once the swinging  
momentum has built up.

The girl on the right can  
get it swinging, but not  
with a lot of force.

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[Note 1] I am using ‘the  amount of momentum’ 
as a  catchall for the force that is on  moving seat  
[Note 2] This is why we made  our original heavy-duty
 model  The VLF not so tall, giving the  swinger a
 full swinging experience but with less momentum 
to  keep the frame stable.

What to purchase?  
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There are many different swing frames on the market today and many  other ways to get some swinging including throwing a rope over an outstretched tree branch. Let’s narrow it down by examining your situation,  which is especially important for portable frames.  Ask yourself  What kind of swinging: slow therapy style or very robust, How big are the people swinging, for now and in the future?  How much space do you have  (12’ wide x 16’ front to back is a general minimum).   How  often will the stand  need to be taken down or moved?  Do you want the stand to feel solid and be safe?    
Other possibilities  
Many portable frames are light in weight, made to set up or take down easily, but are, by nature (or physics) less stable.  Sometimes I recommend  the use of a ceiling mount system. If your therapy area has a  sturdy beam, then a ceiling system can work very nicely so you don’t have 4 legs in the middle of the room. However, with a ceiling beam that is way up there, like 12’ feet or higher, you are losing most of the swinging action. The seat moves back and forth but without much lift like real swinging. The seat rope is too long unless the swinger is really pushing it. Also, will the frame be mostly outside? I usually tell folks who ask, ‘If  it’s for outdoors then  get one made for outdoors with extra long legs to be dug into the ground. 
    However, if it is a portable frame you need, then which one? There are numerous swing frames that can  support 150 to 250 Lbs. Just being able to hold or minimally swing someone may not be what you need. In many situations, being able to seriously swing is key. Which is why we developed our adult/commercial model swing frames, the HD-120, the VLF, and our new space saving Swing All. Here are some issues for vigorous swinging and why we developed our heavy–duty swing frames. 
    As the momentum of swinging builds, much of the physics goes against a portable (especially a lightweight) frame’s ability to stay stable. It is being pushed up, down, and sideways. The frame is flexing causing  extra tension. It is being lifted off the floor, and it is moving around the floor. The heavier the swinger the more unstable most frames will feel. Vigorous swinging of a heavier person will need a sturdier frame, as will a 150 lbs. teenager who really wants to swing away. Other adults who need only slight motion can do well with a light duty frame. The problem with light-duty frames is they are light, look light-duty, and can’t handle swinging outside the span of the legs.  Many swing frames can gently swing a teen or adult but forceful swinging can make the frame shift around the floor. A tall frame,  8’ or over, will be more top heavy. The longer rope to the swing seat will add  extra  moving force (momentum) putting stress on the swing frame and making it visibly less stable.  
     Our new Swing All, along with the VLF and HD-120 are made for adults and commercial environments. It is substantial, has a small footprint, is heavy-weight, and built to take weight and heavy use well beyond it’s stated limits. To me, overbuilding (using larger, higher grade components has made it safe and stable for all users.

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Our new Swing All
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Hopefully this short guide will 
help with your purchasing decision. 
TK

Written by Thomas Kass of Take a Swing. 
Who has been building, using, testing, and getting 
customer feedback for over 20 years. All rights reserved.
Duplication for educational purposes   is allowed

Download Our Understanding Portable Swing Frames Guide

Question 7

What do I need to know when replacing my feet for my swing frame?

Accepted Answer

Here is everything that our customer need to know when replacing the feet to their swing frame.

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Take a Swing How-to Videos

Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder

Read Tom's Article About Understanding Portable Swing Frames

Portable and Attached
Frame Info-graph

Take a Swing How-to Videos

Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder

Read Tom's Article About Understanding Portable Swing Frames

Portable and Attached Frame Info-graph

Portable and Attached
Frame Info-graph