What happened to teeter-totters?

[beacooker]

A burning question -

I was reading a book to my son this morning, and it had a picture of a couple of kids on a teeter-totter. I suddenly realized that none of the parks I have taken my son to have teeter-totters. We have been to quite a few different parks, so this surprises me. Are teeter-totters a thing of the past? If so, why? Too dangerous?

[Escher]

Thank the lack of personal responsibility, the lawyers who try to convince everyone that every injury is a money making opportunity, and the juries that award people ridiculous claims.....

[funnybone]

There is one in our neighborhood park, and it's fairly new. They are out there, but probably not in all parks.

[munchies]

You know, now that you mention it Anne, I haven't seen any either! We have been to several parks around our area, but no teeter-totters. Hmm. Interesting.

I do know when we were visiting Santa Monica, they had teeter-totter type things at the parks on the beach. They didn't go all the way up and down though. I think they had some sort of spring in the center so they just bounced up and down a bit.

Heather

[SusanMac]

my niece & nephew in Houston have teeter-totters in their local parks, which are fairly new. Maybe it's a regional thing? Gosh, I love teeter-totters! Weeee!

[claire797]

My dad was president of the homeowners' association in his neighborhood. They happen to have all the old "toys" in their local park -- teeter totters, merry go rounds, a huge metal slide and see saws. But they pay a mint in insurance.

They're also one of the few clubs around that still has a diving board on their pool. Not a high dive, but a small diving board. Remember when neighborhood pools use to have side by side high dives and low dives? No more.

[HRJ]

What's the difference between a teeter-totter and a see-saw? :confused:

If we're talking about those "boards" with a support in the middle, where one kid sits on each end and they take turns going up and down, I grew up (in NYC) calling that a see-saw. Never heard the phrase teeter-totter until I was grown, but I always assumed it was the same thing as a see-saw. Maybe not?

Anyway, there's a park in our town that got all new playground equipment last fall, and it has one of those "up and down" things. None of the other parks that I've been to around here seem to have them. Maybe they're becoming popular again?

My neighbors have a small one, made by Little Tikes, I think, in their back yard. DS loves it.

Helene

[claire797]

I hope I don't start a flame war by posting this, but this is my idea of a teeter totter. The things that go up and down are see saws.

http://www.pondhouse.net/pauld/albums/2001/2001-08/mn-and-ca/images/jeff-and-kids-teeter-totter.jpg

[valchemist]

I always thought teeter-totters and see-saws were the same thing too. I use the terms interchangeably, but tend to use see-saw more often.

I don't know what that bizarro contraption that anna posted is called, however. :p

oh no. I hope this thread doesn't get locked down.

[sneezles]

Now I'm not posting to argue with you Anna! But I've always thosght they were one and the same and that your picture was one style that more kids could ride on since the original ones were limited to 2 people that had to be comperable in size...

http://www.marksmission.org/Image664.jpg

[beacooker]

Hmmmmm - to me, teeter-totters and see-saws are interchangeable. Then again, I don't know what I would call that thing you posted a picture of, Anna. And thanks for reminding me of merry-go-rounds. None of the parks around here seem to have those, either. How sad, my son may not ever get the experience of getting flung off a merry-go-round, or feel the hard tushy-bump of someone abruptly getting off the see-saw/teeter-totter while he is at the top. :rolleyes: :p

Anna, I like the idea of a teeter-totter vs see-saw flame war. Bring it on! ;)

[Jodi]

The local park where I take my nieces and nephews to play has a teeter-totter. I, too, use teeter-totter ans see-saw interchangeably. My mom just showed me a small-ish, plastic teeter-totter in the JC Penney's catalog that she's planning to get my nephew for his b-day, so they're still around in some places at least.

I HAVE seen a child fall off the teeter-totter and crack her head open, so maybe they have been deemed too dangerous in some communities. My worst injury was always a sore behind from my brother jumping off nad "slamming" me.:rolleyes:
Jodi

[SueK]

I always thought teeter-totters and see-saws were interchangeable, too! And now that I think about it, I can't seem to think of a park around here that has one....will have to confirm this when the parks open back up again in the spring.

[claire797]

Well my Dad taught me everything I ever know about playground equipment and I've only recently discovered that he's not the authority on everything. So as much as I'd like to start a flame war with you all -- especially Susan, I'm going to have to back down and maybe take a break from this thread.

And while your arguments have been most convincing, I think the fact that I got a gazillion pictures of see-saws when I googled the word "teeter-totter" pretty much sealed the deal.

[Kayla]

Originally posted by claire797
Well my Dad taught me everything I ever know about playground equipment and I've only recently discovered that he's not the authority on everything. So as much as I'd like to start a flame war with you all -- especially Susan, I'm going to have to back down and maybe take a break from this thread.

And while your arguments have been most convincing, I think the fact that I got a gazillion pictures of see-saws when I googled the word "teeter-totter" pretty much sealed the deal.

:D Like some of the others, I use those words intechangeably, and luckily, still see them in several parks around my area - but not many :(

That boingy playground staple you posted, Anna, are wonderful things too... but now I have a question. If what you posted isn't a see-saw or teeter-totter... what in the heck is it called?

:) Kayla

[claire797]

This thread is childish and I really have nothing more to say other than this:

Kayla, I think the boingy thing is also a seesaw.

[lindrusso]

Boy, this thread just makes me so sad.

I thought we were finally getting somewhere in trying to change the tone of this bulletin board. Apparently not.

Boingy things (sheesh - is that even a word????), seesaws and teeter-totters. Will it NEVER end!!!!!!

Alysha

[beacooker]

Originally posted by claire797
This thread is childish and I really have nothing more to say other than this:

Kayla, I think the boingy thing is also a seesaw.

Anna, are you kidding??? I am really confused. :confused:

[Beth Y]

I am assuming that all of ya'll are goofing around...I mean, any post that uses the word "boingy" just can't be taken that seriously!!

By the way, I too remember, although not so fondly, the rump-bump of the see-saw/teeter tooter. They are hard to find around here lately. The last one I saw was in London. It was a really big one we could get 2 moms and 2 kids on, and it made my legs REALLY TIRED!! I do not remember that part. Okay, I am a little out of shape

[lindrusso]

Oops - before this goes any further I'd better say that I took Ana's comments as a completely silly joke. It made me laugh and I thought I'd join in and be silly too.

Sorry for any confusion. I know I was just joking and unless I'm way off here, so was Ana. Maybe after everything that has gone on lately, we'd better not joke about such things???? :)

Alysha

[Beth Y]

Oh, boy, now I am going to make people wonder what a teeter-tooter is!?!??!?!? :)

[claire797]

Alysha and Beth,

I'm glad you got my joke. I should have included a big smiley :).

JUST KIDDING! I THINK THE TEETER TOTTER THREAD IS CUTE!

(and childish -- get it? all the pictures of children?)

[beacooker]

Ok, good - I was really hoping that I just got ultra-paranoid! I have been sitting here trying to imagine how a thread about teeter-totters turned ugly!

I must have had too much coffee today. Or, maybe I got one too many rump-bumps on a teeter-totter when I was a child. :p ;)

And Beth, I think just about every time I have written 'teeter-totter' today, I have mis-spelled it as 'teeter-tooter' and had to correct. It has been cracking me up all day!

[SueK]

Originally posted by beacooker
Ok, good - I was really hoping that I just got ultra-paranoid! I have been sitting here trying to imagine how a thread about teeter-totters turned ugly!


OMG, I'm glad to see you guys were joking. :) I was trying to figure out how playground equipment was offensive. I must need more sleep....

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by claire797
I'm glad you got my joke. I should have included a big smiley :).


Actually, I think a smiley would take away from the joke! :D

Anyway, it gave me a good laugh Anna. And sorry, I was doing it again - spelling your name the way Wallycat does! :rolleyes:

And as to the original question - I think it does have to do with liability which I think is a bit ridiculous. Hey, we can forbid our kids from doing anything and everything that might cause injury, but sheesh - would they have any fun at all? All playground equipment is dangerous to some level!

And shhhhhh.....don't tell anyone - we don't have any of the recommended padding under our swingset out back - just plain old - GASP - grass.

And I don't mean to make light of anyone who has had a child suffer an injury due to playground equipment. I'm sure it's terrible and I'm sure we are better off for some of the improvements they have made over the years - you just have to wonder where it ends. For instance I have seen kids get clocked pretty good by walking in front of swings - do we ban them too????

Alysha

[beacooker]

My friends son somehow did a little flip from the swing the other day, and got a bump on his head. I agree, swings should be banned from the playground! And slides? Kids could fall off those, too. Perhaps all children should be required to wear those heavily-padded sumo wrestler costumes when they go onto a playground? ;)

[Kayla]

I actually got really worried for a minute when Anna replied with the 'childish' thing... :(

But I'm glad it was a joke! :D

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by beacooker
Perhaps all children should be required to wear those heavily-padded sumo wrestler costumes when they go onto a playground? ;)

Tee, hee! I was getting the same picture in my head. But heck - why stop at the playground???? If the padding can protect them there, it can protect them when they do other dangerous things like riding bikes or rollerskating!

And I just have to say it's funny how differently people take things. In light of everything that has been going on lately, Anna's comments were even funnier to me - but I can also see how what has been going on lately could also make someone more paranoid too! :)

Whew - it's a good thing we came back to clear THAT up! Nothing like a teeter-totter thread to heat things up around here. :D

Alysha

[beacooker]

Originally posted by lindrusso


And I just have to say it's funny how differently people take things. In light of everything that has been going on lately, Anna's comments were even funnier to me - but I can also see how what has been going on lately could also make someone more paranoid too! :)


Actually, Alysha, it was YOU who got me paranoid! Sarcasm from Anna, I expect. But from sweet Alysha? Whoda thunk? And you are so good at it! :)

[SueK]

Hey Alysha - that gives me an idea for our 6 week challenge - teeter-totters would be a good leg workout! :) Now if I could only locate one...... :cool:

[Kayla]

Originally posted by lindrusso
...Whew - it's a good thing we came back to clear THAT up! Nothing like a teeter-totter thread to heat things up around here. :D...

Just WAIT until we start talking about swings!

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by beacooker
Actually, Alysha, it was YOU who got me paranoid! Sarcasm from Anna, I expect. But from sweet Alysha? Whoda thunk? And you are so good at it! :)

That's what made me think I'd better come back and say something! I realized it was out of character for me to do that here and that it might make people take things seriously. :eek: :D

See......just goes to show......ya just never know about some people..... :D

Well, Sue, my problem wouldn't be finding a see-saw (our school has some), it would be finding someone who would get on it with me (other than my kids who don't weigh enough to budge the darn thing!). :D :D

The swings? You can't handle the swings!

Alysha

[MusicMom]

Where I grew up, the thing that went up and down was a teeter-totter. The thing that we called a see-saw at our playground was attached to the swing frame with a pole. Two children sat across from each other and swung back and forth (like a sawing motion, hence the name). I'll see if I can find a photo.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen either contraption at any of our playrounds around here!

I love nostalgia. :)

Edited to add that I feel really disillusioned after searching for see saws. Like Claire797, I found that see-saws and teeter totters are the same thing. Now, I wonder what the thing that I was told was a see-saw is actually called. :rolleyes:

[claire797]

Originally posted by SueK
Hey Alysha - that gives me an idea for our 6 week challenge - teeter-totters would be a good leg workout! :) Now if I could only locate one...... :cool:

Hey! That's actually part of my weight-bearing exercise plan. DD weighs 35 pounds and I weigh, well, much more. In order to keep her in motion I stand over my side of the see-saw and just do deep knee bends to keep her in motion. It's pretty good exercise.

[hlao23]

I grew up saying "see saw" and this was one of my favorite ways to play on them:

Set them up so each one is tilted the opposite direction of the one next to it and the run up and down the see saws in a switch back type fashion. (does that make sense?) I don't think my parents ever caught us doing this.

Swings? When the person on the swing is at the top of the arc (swinging backwards) we would run and lie down on the ground under the swing, let the person swing over us, and then roll out from under the swing when the swing went back again.

All this from a girl who was (is) afraid of softballs, basketballs, wiffle balls...

I think kids are creative enough to make anything dangerous.;)

[syzygy]

Originally posted by MusicMom
Where I grew up, the thing that went up and down was a teeter-totter. The thing that we called a see-saw at our playground was attached to the swing frame with a pole. Two children sat across from each other and swung back and forth (like a sawing motion, hence the name). I'll see if I can find a photo.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen either contraption at any of our playrounds around here!

I love nostalgia. :)

Edited to add that I feel really disillusioned after searching for see saws. Like Claire797, I found that see-saws and teeter totters are the same thing. Now, I wonder what the thing that I was told was a see-saw is actually called. :rolleyes:

That's really funny, because where I grew up, it was just the opposite --

This was a see-saw:
http://personal.inet.fi/yritys/satugalleria/kuvat/business/keinulau.jpg

and this was a teeter totter:
http://www.strawserart.com/luke/images/post%20day%20140/Luke_on_teeter_totter.jpg

and if you do a google image search for teeter totters, the above is the only one of those "back and forth" ones; all the others are what I've always known as see-saws...

[MrsReber]

Darn it! Another childhood myth destroyed. I always called them see-saws! I hated them, though. Probably because I weighed about 20 pounds until I hit puberty. Not fun being the tiny child on the see-saw- er, excuse me- teeter-totter.

If it were up to my DH, I think our kids would wear helmets 24 hours a day (never know when they might fall out of bed). He freaks over every bruise, like we can somehow pad their entire lives so they never get hurt. Not likely. I'm looking into swingsets now for our kids. We only have one swing and it's causing major problems. There will be grass under our swingset.

[lhall]

At this point in time DD2 can't even walk without hurting herself. :rolleyes: She trips over her own feet at least 3 times a week. The most recent time she was running into her bedroom, tripped, and hit the side of her dresser. *sigh* DD1 went through a similar stage.

Leigh

[claire797]

Originally posted by beacooker


Actually, Alysha, it was YOU who got me paranoid! Sarcasm from Anna, I expect. But from sweet Alysha? Whoda thunk? And you are so good at it! :)

The question is, was it really sarcasm (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=satire) or irony (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=irony)?

[Kayla]

Originally posted by MusicMom
Where I grew up, the thing that went up and down was a teeter-totter. The thing that we called a see-saw at our playground was attached to the swing frame with a pole. Two children sat across from each other and swung back and forth (like a sawing motion, hence the name)....

Hmmm, that's what I grew up with too...

And Anna... thanks for those definitions :p ;)

[claire797]

I didn't want to complicate things my mentioning the sawing motion thing on the swing set, but since Music Mom did, well.....

I had one of those sawing motion things on my swing set and we called it a teeter-totter too.

Sawing motion thing and Boingy Thing = Teeter-Totters

Board that go up and down = See Saw

I guess in my mind, any bouncyish/ridey thing that's not a certified up and down see-saw is a teeter-totter.

[Kayla]

Originally posted by claire797
I didn't want to complicate things my mentioning the sawing motion thing on the swing set, but since Music Mom did, well.....

I had one of those sawing motion things on my swing set and we called it a teeter-totter too.

Sawing motion thing and Boingy Thing = Teeter-Totters

Board that go up and down = See Saw

I guess in my mind, any bouncyish/ridey thing that's not a certified up and down see-saw is a teeter-totter.

Let's just settle this in court. Things would be so much easier that way. :D

[MusicMom]

Reading this thread is like having a few too many twirls in the middle of a merry-go-round. :cool: :)

[Melman]

I've giggled all the way through this thread. Thanks for some early morning entertainment.

I always thought of a teeter-totter (or even a teeter-tooter) and a see-saw as the same thing. The thing that's attached to a swingset that goes back and forth, I always called a glider.

I remember playing on all the above equipment MANY MANY years ago...but I have vivid memories of being on that merry-go-round thing. I never did any of those spinning objects very well...but I remember the speed and the giggles that went with it. :D

[Kayla]

Originally posted by Melman
I've giggled all the way through this thread. Thanks for some early morning entertainment.

I always thought of a teeter-totter (or even a teeter-tooter) and a see-saw as the same thing. The thing that's attached to a swingset that goes back and forth, I always called a glider.

I remember playing on all the above equipment MANY MANY years ago...but I have vivid memories of being on that merry-go-round thing. I never did any of those spinning objects very well...but I remember the speed and the giggles that went with it. :D

Teeter-tooter and glider?! What PLANET are you from?

:D

[Melman]

Planet Goofy.
:D

Or Planet Giggle.

It beats the heck out of Planet Grumpoid.


:D :D :D :D

[Kayla]

Originally posted by Melman
Planet Goofy.
:D

Or Planet Giggle.

It beats the heck out of Planet Grumpoid.


:D :D :D :D

I like the sounds of that planet... can I come visit you sometime when I'm on one of my space-cadet missions?

[Melman]

Of course...there's room for all of us. :D