Tag Archives: exercise

Build It, Improvise It, Play With It, Refurbish It, Upcycle It

Swinging High

2 Comments

 

One piece of playground that most children enjoy is the feeling of freedom that comes from swinging. In some cases, the higher the better! But with special needs swing seats costing anything from $400 to $2000 the cost can be very prohibitive.

Thankfully there is a cheap, and relatively easy fix to this problem. Out of date car seats! These are often given away, if you haven’t got one laying around, or even an older seat that is sold cheap at a garage sale, or on you local buy sell pages. And for bigger kids, something like an old Columbia special needs car seat can work well. We picked one up for $30.

This one is just made from a regular car seat, and is being used by a 4 year old boy with CP. As long as they are comfortable in it, you don’t need to worry about where the shoulder markers are, because hopefully you won’t be having any high speed crashes! You can choose to remove the upholstery for outside use, or leave it in place if it will be under a roof, or you live where it never rains! If removing the upholstery, some EVA foam could be cut to fit to provide a bit of comfort, and you could even glue in some cut down pool noodles to provide extra lateral or head support. To adjust the recline of the seat, simply lengthen or shorten the front ropes in comparison to the back ones.

Now for the Step by Step instructions.

YOU WILL NEED

  • Used car seat that is not hinged in the middle, complete with straps.  Upholstery is optional.
  • EVA foam, pool noodles etc and a good plastics glue if wanting to add extra support.
  • Rope or chain, hooks, etc. Here we have used premade swing rope that came with the loop for hanging, from an old swing. You can buy these at the likes of Bunnings or toy stores. You could also  use plain nylon rope, or plastic covered chain with those little bent pins to hold it in place. Just work with what you have or can easily get.
  • A drill and sandpaper
  • Somewhere to hang your swing – a tree, a swing frame, a beam. Whatever you have handy.

First, check your seat to see if there are any conveniently located This one had some slots located at the bottom front that were a good size to thread the rope through. IMG_3376Next, drill any holes you do need. Two at the top back, and two at the bottom front. If you are keeping the upholstery on the seat, you may want to think about where would be the best placement. In some cases, you may be able to thread from the back to the front, so long as the knots won’t be in an uncomfortable spot for the child. Use sandpaper to smooth the plastic so it doesn’t rub into the rope and fray it with time. You could skip this if using chain, providing there are no sharp bits of plastic that could scratch your child.

IMG_3373 Attach the rope or chain to the seat, and affix by using a knot, or locking pin if using a chain. If using plastic covered chain, put this on before attaching the chain.IMG_3372 If using chain, you can simply adjust the recline by selecting which link to hang the swing from. If using rope with a protected loop like this one, it is easiest to adjust the recline by adjusting the length of the rope before tying the knots. Just make sure your knots are tight, cannot slip through the size of the holes you drilled, and leave a bit of extra hanging so you can adjust the recline in the future.IMG_3377Now, hang your swing, insert child, strap in, and enjoy!Swing Hudson

Build It, Play With It, Refurbish It

Pedalling Along

2 Comments

For many children, riding a bike is a right of passage that we all have been through. But for those with disabilities, this can seem insurmountable. These days there is a large range of specialised bikes and trikes available, if you have the funding. If not, or if your child only needs minor adjustments, you may try your hand at modifying your own standard bike.

In Australia, most states have an organisation known as TAD – Technical Aids for the Disabled. These guys are a group of volunteers who will make all kinds of adaptations for you at cost price. Sadly, there is a long waiting list for their services. So, to get you started, I thought I would start a series of bike posts. One of the easiest adaptations to make to a bike is the pedals.

$6 Crocs + a cable-tie = one comfy set of pedal supports.
$6 Crocs + a cable-tie = one comfy set of pedal supports.

While you can get all sorts of fancy foot plates, unless your child needs leg guidance, one of the best products out there is a pair of cheap Croc knock-offs, available at many junk shops. poke two small holes in the sole, and cable-tie them to the pedals. Done!

The owner of this specialised bike actually has a set of the official footplates, but does not like them as she cannot put them on by herself. So her mother went and bought these cheap plastic shoes, and cable-tied them to the pedals, and one happy little girl can now get on and off to ride whenever she feels like it!

The Smart Trike 5 in 1 is the most supportive of the Smart Trikes, and is available in toy stores and department stores everywhere.
The Smart Trike 5 in 1 is the most supportive of the Smart Trikes, and is available in toy stores and department stores everywhere.

For the smallest children, up until around 3-4 years, if you combine this tip with a Smart-Trike, you have a nice supportive trike with parent steering for around $200. Even less if you check out your local buy sell pages. You could also cable-tie in some cut down pool noodles for extra support at the sides if necessary. I am trying to get hold of one cheaply so I can adapt it and take photos to post here. I will then donate it to the Aroha Angels loan pool for someone else to get the use of.

The next stage in standard bikes is often a 12″ bike with training wheels which may come with a parent steering handle. for those who can sit on the bike themselves, this may be a nice cheap way to delay the switch to an expensive special needs one. It may also be worth checking your local bike shop to see if they have any wider seats that may be able to be used to give a bit of extra support for those who find the standard seat not stable enough. These are usually not very expensive, and simply bolt onto your standard seat pole.

If you have adapted your child’s bike or trike, I would love to see it! And if you would like to see it shared here, please email me at budget@justjuniorsdisability.com