--- title: "Outdoor Adventures Bond: The Swing That Brings Fathers and Children Closer" description: A swing in the garden is the simplest outdoor adventure. How the SOLVEJ swing, made by a father for his daughter, brings you closer to your children. author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief) date: 2026-11-06T17:47:16.823Z updated: 2026-11-06T17:47:16.841Z canonical: https://richdadmagazine.com/article/outdoor-adventures-bond-the-swing-that-brings-fathers-and-children-closer image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/rd-nov26-cover-solvej.webp categories: Fatherhood content_type: Feature publication: Rich Dad Magazine schema_type: Article --- What will your children remember about this winter? Not the plans you made or the presents under the tree. They will remember the moments: the afternoon in the woods, the cold air on their cheeks and the sound of you laughing beside them. The simplest outdoor adventure you can share with your children does not need a plane ticket or a week off work. It hangs from a tree. ## How Outdoor Adventures Build the Bond With Your Children Outdoors, the screens go dark and the to-do list stays at home. You and your child share the same view, the same effort and the same laughter, and that shared experience is what children carry with them into adulthood. You do not need a mountain or a kayak. A garden, a park or one strong branch gives you everything you need. Our guide to [fishing, hiking, camping, kayaking and cycling with your children](https://richdadmagazine.com/article/outdoor-activities-dads-and-kids) has ideas for bigger days out, but the bond begins with ten minutes outside, side by side. ## A Swing Made by a Father for His Daughter The swing on our cover began with that same bond. Thomas, a Swedish designer and cabinet-maker, and Jenny lived between Sweden and New Zealand for many years before they settled in New Zealand, and in 1992 they founded SOLVEJ Swings there. Thomas had first designed a swing for his own daughter. The company still says that Solvej is the name of the princess who first used these swings. The name is pronounced 'SOOL-VAY'. More than thirty years later, every swing is still made in New Zealand, with the clean lines of Scandinavian design and the craft of a cabinet-maker behind it. ## Why a Swing Brings You Closer A swing is an adventure your child can repeat every day. The steady motion helps calm and regulate emotion, and the SOLVEJ Child Swing works as a sensory swing for children and adults alike. That makes it useful for every child and especially for children with sensory processing differences or those who find it hard to settle big feelings. Small children can lie across the seat for tummy swinging, and older children use it to build balance and physical coordination. The Child Swing suits ages 3 and up, so you can sit on it too, with your child on your lap, as the father on our cover does. If you have a baby, the SOLVEJ Baby Swing converts to a toddler and child swing as your little one grows. ## Simple, Safe Outdoor Adventures With a Swing SOLVEJ swings are made for indoor and outdoor use, so the adventure does not stop when the weather turns. A few simple habits keep every ride safe: - Hang the swing from a strong, healthy branch or a sound beam, and ask a competent adult or a tradesperson to fit it if you are unsure. - Use the fittings designed for the swing and never alter the swing itself. - Leave clear space in front, behind and to each side, with soft ground underneath outdoors. - Check the ropes, fittings and branch at the start of each season. - Stay close while young children swing, and swing with them when you can. That last habit matters most. Push the swing, count the swings aloud, race the clouds or simply sit together and talk. Ten minutes on a swing can become the part of the day your child looks forward to most. ## Built From Wood, Canvas and Yachting Braid SOLVEJ makes its swings with painstaking care from materials chosen for the job. The seat combines naturally durable wood with top quality outdoor furniture canvas. The ropes are yachting braid and the fittings are stainless steel, so the swing stands up to rain, sun and years of use. The company designs every swing without compromise for safety, durability, function and beauty, and it backs that up with a nine-year warranty. The Child Swing comes in Soft Linen, Moss Green, Classic Taupe and Slate Grey. ## A Swing to Hand Down SOLVEJ makes its swings to be handed down through generations. The swing your son or daughter rides this winter can hang from a branch for their own children one day, and the bond you build on it today goes with it. You can find the full SOLVEJ range at [solvejswings.com](https://solvejswings.com).