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The first basic swing sets were handmade and were built by families growing up on the prairies. Children would play on these swing sets after the work day was over and parents would relax and enjoy watching their children play. The design of these swings sets were basically a piece of wood and rope tied to a tree branch.
In the US, in the late 1800s, child labor laws were enacted that included the minimum age that people were permitted to work. No longer working, children had time on their hands but no place to play in the highly populated urban areas. The result was a movement by women and other associations to set up playgrounds where children could play. Local governments became involved and in 1898, the Outdoor Recreation League started to give out seesaws and slides in newly constructed New York playgrounds. The National Playground Association was founded in 1906.
In 1912, the University of Virginia sponsored a teachers' program that resulted in the first complete playground and swingset package. The University of Virginia made the designs public for other schools to build their own swingset/playground. By the late 1940s, companies were mass producing wooden swingsets for the home. Backyard swingsets hit the market and were quickly purchased. Swingsets as well as jungle gyms, seesaws, and slides became the standard at schools and in home backyards. Also, there was a post-war boom in playground construction, which included swing sets, to meet the demands of baby boomers.
In 1945, commercially available residential cedar swing sets were developed by a New England company called ChildLife. In the 1960s, designers developed innovative play structures based upon child psychology concepts which promoted social interaction and decision-making. Individual units included various integrated play structures. The concept was called "Adventure Playgrounds."
With the emergence of titanium and aluminum, metal swings became fairly prominent in parks and playgrounds. These swing sets were very strong and durable. In the 70s, there was an increase in playground injuries due to the steel used in the structures. In 1975, two parents began the company, 'Woodplay Playsets' in Raleigh, North Carolina. Because of the high number of injuries resulting from steel playsets, in the 1980s, the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published standards that would have a great impact on swing set design. The new regulations included proposals for removing hard equipment such as metals bars and replace with 'soft' replacements such as plastic and wood. As a result, wooden swing sets with colored plastic parts began to replace solid iron bars in home backyards. In 1991 the CPSC implemented more guidelines regarding the installation of softer safer surfacing.
The swing sets we see today are safe, fun, and unique with innovative designs. The swing set is an ancient concept that has evolved to be permanent cultural icon and will be enjoyed by children for generations to come.
