Swing Into Fall with a Tree Swing

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Attach Rope To Seat

Attach the free end of the swing ropes to the beckets that are in the seat rope slings with a becket bend (see illustration: Knots). Take your time to loosen and adjust the knots so that the seat is level and at the best height. Remember, you want your children to be able to reach the ground with the balls (but not the heels) of their feet. (Hint: For a 7-year-old, a seat top 13" off the ground is about right.) Push the whipcord holding the sling becket up under the loop in the becket bend, tighten, and whip the loose end of the knot to the swing-rope.

This simple-looking but self-cinching knot will hold forever, even in slippery artificial-fiber rope. But when the kids grow a few inches, you can cut the binding, loosen the knot with a push, raise the swing and rebind. Check the knots until the rope sets over a few month's use. If your knots or bindings persist in coming loose, avoid shipping out on a sailing vessel any time soon and spray with an all-purpose, water-resistant adhesive. The wood will weather to a dusty gray in time and, with annual applications of wood preservative, should last until your grandchildren have grandchildren of their own.

Finally, a comment on swing safety: Centrifugal force will hold kids on the seat as long as they don't go so high that the rope slackens at the top of the swing. Accidents are limited to occasional scratched knees and stubbed toes at the landing zone under the swing if kids are given a non-slippery seat, rope they can grasp, plus training and supervision. Teach them to hang on tight with both hands and to swing straight and not too high. And, prohibit tricks, while swinging high (no twisting the rope, hanging ape-like by one arm, no standing on the seat or letting go to to sail off onto the ground). Scrapes are minimized if kids are dressed in tough jeans and shoes. (Little girl's dresses are not safe swing-apparel. Silky underdrawers can slip off dress fabric, and send kids sprawling to the ground. Bare knees are vulnerable.) It's easiest on shoe leather if kids are encouraged to "let the dog die" rather than scruffing themselves to a stop. And, never let grown-ups or older youngsters push younger children higher than they like to go.

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