BCLC series – bucket swing

Gavin has a bucket swing at home.  He is in the swing at least two times a day, it is part of his “therapy”, and allows for him to get the much needed vestibular input that his body craves.  Gavin doesn’t really prefer the swings at the park, no matter how long we have him feel the swing.  We don’t just plop him in anything unfamiliar.  How scary would that be?  Even though minutes of “feeling” the swing, he never takes to them very well.  The same can be said for the same exact bucket swing at Blind Children’s Learning Center.

It has taken us about 6 weeks to get Gavin to actually swing in the bucket swing at BCLC.  Even though he loves his swing at home, it’s the same exact swing, and he is in it for up to an hour a day!  It’s another reminder that even though he may be familiar with something in his own setting, the same cannot be said in unfamiliar territory. On our part it just takes patience, and working through.  Like his therapist said, when he is put in a swing, he has no idea if he is 2 inches off the ground or 20 feet off the ground. 

I was so proud of this moment!  Each week we worked with the swing, just for little portions of time.  Nothing elaborate, but it is all part of the process.  That is what I have learned over the course of Gavin’s life, which is so different from Landon.  I have one son, who is sighted, and one who is totally blind.  It’s two completely different worlds!  Gavin takes a lot of time to get used to something – which I totally understand.  When he finally allowed his therapist to put him in the swing, we were elated!  We went from not even wanting to touch the swing, to touching the swing, to touching the ropes, to moving the swing, to pushing the swing, to singing while pushing the swing (which is a great indication he is enjoying himself) – to swinging in the swing!

Such a small task for us sighted individuals, but it took a lot of work and trust!

After we accomplished the bucket swing, we tried the rectangle swing.  Of course, the same scenario ensued with this swing.  It took him the same time to become comfortable, but I believe the self confidence and knowing he is in a safe setting, and that his therapist would make sure to help him, gave him the courage to sit on the rectangle swing, and GET OFF on his own!  Getting off of the swing, by his own will, was just as important as him mastering swinging in the swing.

I’m so proud of him.