Let’s Make a Tree Swing

Teaching my children to be confident in their own ability to make what they need has been a wonderfully rewarding aspect of parenting for me. We could easily have gone out and bought a swing. It would have been quicker than making it ourselves, that’s for sure. But, Teddy and I would have missed out on all the fun we had as we made our swing together. There is a very special bond we create when we engage in meaningful work with our children. As we make things together, we are also making memories. We are learning to trust each other. We are growing confident in our own ability. We are being creative together. We are thinking critically. As it turns out, making a swing is so much more than making-a-swing!

All we needed was a rope and a plank. Teddy drilled holes on either end of the plank. We cut the rope to length, threaded it through the holes he’d just drilled and tied big, strong knots. We fixed our swing to a strong tree limb in the avocado tree. Done!

At first, Teddy was skeptical his swing would hold his weight. He tested it. It held. His face beamed… he had truly made a swing!

Our swing has brought a magical aspect to our back yard. Both children swing every day… sometimes together, sometimes just on their own. Their eyes sparkle, their hair flies wildly and often, a joyous ‘wheeeee!’ can be heard as they swing through the air.

Blessings and magic,

Donni