Swing (seat)

A swing is a hanging seat, usually found in a playground for children, a circus for acrobats, or on a porch for relaxing. The seat of a swing can be attached to a chain or a rope. Once a swing is in motion it continues to oscillate like a pendulum until drag (or interference) brings it to a halt.

On playgrounds, several swings are often suspended from the same metal or wooden frame, known as a swing set, allowing more than one child to play at a time. Such swings come in a variety of sizes and shapes. For infants and toddlers, swings with leg holes support the child in an upright position while a parent or sibling pushes the child to get a swinging motion. Some swing sets include play items other than swings - such as a rope ladder or sliding pole.

For older children, swings are sometimes made of a flexible canvas seat, of rubberized ventilated tire tread, of plastic, or of wood. A common backyard sight is of a wooden plank suspended on both sides by ropes from a tree branch. Older children can go much higher, sometimes over 15 feet above the ground.

Tire swings are a form of swing made from a whole tire reinforced with a circular metal bar. Increasingly rare, these types of swings can hold up to 3 children (or more) and are held up by thick wooden beams. Pumping is achieved by using one or two of the three chains attached to the swing, and two (or more) children can pump in turn. Tire swings can also be used in spinners, where the occupant uses their feet to propel the tire. Very dangerous stunts can be performed on tire swings, and because of this, most have been removed from schools and parks.

Natural swings may be created by lianas (creeper plant) in a subtropical wild forest like Aokigahara forest near Mount Fuji.