Tire Swings
A tire suspended from a tree with a rope – who knew that something so simple could be so much fun. No doubt you remember what it was like as kid to play on a tire swing, taking turns with your friends spinning each other around and around and around. Tire swings give you that great feeling of freedom as you fly back and forth and around again under the blue sky, with the vague feeling of dread, wondering if you’re going to smack into the tree. It may be hard to believe it, with kids these days fighting the idea of leaving their video games, TVs, DVD players, and computers behind and going outside, but once you can get your kids on a tire swing, they’ll never want to get off. This old fashioned idea is still relevant in today’s fast paced world. Tire swings are a great way to get your kids to head outdoors for some fresh air once in awhile and give them a chance to experience a more slow paced, laid back kid of fun, which they will love in spite of themselves.
About Tire Swings
Outdoor tire swings really couldn’t be simpler; a sturdy branch, an old tire, and a rope are all you really need. Of course, there have been some safety advances over the years and you can buy tire swing sets for kids, including plastic tire swings. These tire swing kits come with everything you need to get your swing going; if you don’t have any suitable trees in the yard, some kits come with tire swing swivels, free standing bases that do not require you to mount the swing on a tree.
You can, of course, make tire swings yourself. There is tons of advice online about how to hang a tire swing and lots of building instructions for tire swings. The internet is full of “how I made a horse tire swing” and “how I made a recycled tire swing” stories, that will walk you step by step through the process.
Remember that you’re making tire swings for kids, so make safety your priority when building a tire swing. Make sure you use a sturdy limb or base and make sure the rope is thing and strong. Also make sure that the area around the swing is wide enough to allow the swing to move freely without any obstructions. Lastly, makes sure the area under the swing is soft – if needed, dig it out and fill it with soft material – so any falls will be relatively soft.
