Why is my son so affraid of getting on the swings at the park?

Question

well since he was a baby i have been trying to get him on the swings i tryed when he was 2 about 100 times and he screamed murder i tryed when he was 3 about a 100 times same thing and now he's 4 and im still going through the same thing he screams murder it would be ok but parents look at me like im doing something wrong please i need help is this normal or should i just stop trying can anybody help or have some tips or methods im starting to think there's nothing i can do !!!!!

Answer 1

Mine was because when i looked up.. the latches or the material connecting the swing to its stand was always rusty or creaky... i was afraid it would break...

but thats it

Answer 2

Why is it so important that he play on the swings?  Most kids are curious and want to try new things.  He probably got freaked out when he was 2 and hasn't been able to get over it yet.  Let him play on the equipment he's comfortable with.  It isn't going to matter whether he likes the swings, or not.  If he's afraid of other equipment on the playground, he may just be really timid.  Nother wrong with that either.  At four years old, it's normal for him to be afraid of things.  Try this... get down on all fours and take a close look at what the world looks like from that angle.  As parents, especially in the early stages of parenting, we forget what things look like to children.  Everything is HUGE.  A porch step, for us, is a porch step.  For a 4 year old, its roughly the same as an adult stepping down off the dining room table.  Kids are funny.  Sometimes the things you think they should want to do, they want no part of.  And the things you can't imagine doing, they think are the most interesting.

Answer 3

Maybe he feels nauseous on the swings.I know I used to when I was little.Some children have problems with their balance while swinging and it makes them feel quiet sick and faint.

Answer 4

I've never heard of it but it could be anything from a bad dream or something your boy saw. I would stop trying and let him go on his own if he wanted to. I didnt like it when my mom tried to make me swim, I just didnt trust the water if someone else held me. I love swimming now. It could be a control fear for him. If I don't have control of my own body, I usually dont like it. I would rather fly in a small plane than a large one because the small plane is less of something I can't control. Maybe he doesnt like not being able to control the swing. Take note of other playground equipment that he plays on and notice what he plays on the most and what he totally avoids.

Answer 5

could he be scared of heights? or afraid he'll fall off??  maybe he saw someone fall before and he's afraid..have you tryed askin him?

Answer 6

I think it's pretty clear that your son does not want to go on the swings, so it's probably a good idea to stop trying to put him on the swings.  Kids develop odd dislikes of things that there's really no explanation for, but it doesn't mean he's abnormal in some way.  Let him go play on the slide or the jungle gym instead, that way he's happy and the other parents don't pay any attention to you and him.