If you're looking for an easy DIY kids swing to make for your kids, then try this DIY ball swing.
Our long, cold winters are the main reason we installed swing hooks in our playroom in the first place. Then we discovered my son was a vestibular sensory seeker so swings became an absolute must.
And I must admit that I'm a wee bit addicted to making DIY kids swing. Just a bit.
Our latest sensory swing hack is this ball swing, which will have you singing Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" in no time.
...or is that just me who sings randomly about things going on around me?
Well, Miley or not, the kids had a blast with this DIY kid swing. It's also super simple and inexpensive to make.
Important Safety Precautions & Reminders for Using DIY Swings for Kids
When it comes to DIY kids swings like this ball swing, it's always best to keep these things in mind:- Always test homemade swings first before letting children play with them.
- Do not leave children unattended on swings.
- Put swings away when not in use.
- Make sure that the swing is in a clear, unobstructed space.
- I am not responsible for injuries or damage pertaining to or caused by this DIY swing.
- Please use at your own risk.
- The handle on the hopper ball may eventually rip or tear, so look for signs of wear before using it as a swing.
DIY Ball Swing for Kids: What You'll Need
This sensory swing is super easy to make. All you need is:- Hopper ball - We picked up ours for $10
- Rope - We used the leftover 1/4" nylon diamond braid rope from our homemade taco swing
How to Make a DIY Ball Swing
The inspiration for this DIY ball swing came from Play at Home Mom LLC where they made a ball swing for under $5.However, our swing hooks are installed in an extra wide doorway, so if we were to tie our ball swing to only one hook, then the kids would have ran into the door frame, surely hurting themselves.
Instead, I used two ropes and tied them to our swing hooks (you can see how our swing hooks are installed here).
Just tie the ropes around the handle and the swing hooks using a non-slip knot. Be sure to test the swing before putting your kids on it! The kids always love watching me attempt to swing on these DIY swings first...so many giggles!
Once you've done the weight test and ensured it can hold an adult's weight, it's finally time to let the kids try it out.
The kids had a blast with this swing, especially trying to climb on and off by themselves (as it's tricky to climb onto a round ball hanging in mid air!).
Other Ways to Play with the DIY Ball Swing
Four year old K was perfectly content to hit the ball swing back and forth with his hands for about 20-30 minutes. So let them chase and hit the swing as much as they'd like!
You could also try these ideas:
- Hitting the ball back and forth with a partner
- Hitting the ball with a plastic bat
- Hitting the ball with a tennis racket
- Hitting the ball with alternating hands (hit it with left hand first and then the right hand when the ball comes back)
Other DIY Sensory Swings You'll Love
This is a cool idea for a swing, I've not seen one like this before! I had to comment and say that I find the choice of music for the video odd considering your post about SPD needs. I could only tolerate the music for a few seconds before hitting mute. Please remember that noises are hard for some SPD people too :)
ReplyDeleteGood point! Noises are hard for my son too, but he never watches my videos...haha. But I will be more mindful of that in the future, thanks!
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