Hi all,

I visited Germany with the family recently and we ran into a playground where a number of swings had tires attached to the seats like this.

We couldn't figure out the why.. So naturally my question is: Why? And how does one use it properly?

by kameleon103

10 comments

  2. I’ve seen swings with tires as “seats”, but not like this.

  3. It’s called reifenschaukel. Just sit on it and you can put your feet/legs in the tire and sit on the tire, then start to swing

    I don’t really know why we have them, but they are pretty common, mostly used by slightly older kids cause those swings are a little bit higher then the normal ones

  4. I’ve seen this multiple times as a child so it’s definitely a “common” thing. Don’t know why though.

  5. They are quite common and surprisingly comfortable to ride. The tire acts like some kind of cushioning. You would sit on it like a normal swing.They are especially fun when they are arranged in such a way that two or more people can hit each other when you are in full swing (like in an hexagonal shape).

  7. “And how does one use it properly?”
    It’s desigend for kids. Can’t do much wrong.
    Sit on it and swing, mate.

  8. They have more mass, so the experience for a 14 kilo kid is just a bit more powerful and stable. Pushing them is also nicer because of that.

    Im no scientist but it feels like the center of the gravity is lower and very much in the middle which makes it nice to push hard and high, without creating any kind of imbalance.

  9. It serves two functions. One is to make it harder jumping from the swing at full speed. The other is, that Kids are interacting with the swing in different ways. Adapting and learning motoric skills. You need more balance skills and body tension one them.

  10. They’re the best and don’t forget, Germans love their cars lol

    Some of these Reifenschaukeln stand in circles but close enough to kick the tires of others while swinging, that was a common game back then. 

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