After I posted the pictures of the custom changing table Paul constructed for our playroom, I thought it might be fun to show off something else he made for the kids. We have an autistic son who spent a whole lot of time in speech and occupational therapy before he started going to preschool every day, and we made it a priority to come up with convenient ways for him to get the therapy he needed right inside our home.

Paul built these swings for the kids to use when the occupational therapist came over every week. She thought they were completely kickass, and complimented us over and over again. Paul built a header across the playroom ceiling, and it is super strong. He grabbed onto it and swung around, to show me just how strong it was, and it held him up without budging a bit. He constructed two different styles of swings - one long and rectangular, and one round, and he hung them from rope and these metal swively things. Check 'em out:



The kids took to those swings like fish to water. Even when they weren't actively swinging from them, they would sit on the swings and play or read - perfect for helping them gain some balance and strength.





Sadly, we had to take the swings down a few months ago. We have four toddlers and two swings, and they can't seem to figure out how to share them. They just fight and bicker and scream, because everyone wants to be on them at one time. I sure miss having them around! Maybe I should hook them up while the bigger kids are at preschool, so the little kids could use them. Pretty cool looking, aren't they?

Labels: autism, occupational therapy, swings