Both seesaws and teeter-totters are fun pieces of playground equipment that encourage team work and patience.
They are also very effective in developing a child’s upper and lower body strength during the activity.
If you are exploring the idea of purchasing playground equipment for your backyard, you may be asking yourself what the difference is between a teeter totter and a seesaw?
The simple answer is that teeter-totters usually have seats for more than two children to ride on. However, the terms often get used interchangeably depending on your geographical location!
Teeter totter Vs seesaw – language and terms
The popular general term ‘seesaw’ is understood, but you will find different terms depending on where you are – and even more than just teeter totter and seesaw!
The biggest variety of terms for seesaws can be found in New England, U.S. For example, in the southeast of this region, a ‘tilting board’ or ‘tilt’ may be the word you hear; while in northeast Massachusetts, you may hear ‘teedle board’. When further around Narragansett Bay, you would hear ‘dandle board’ or ‘dandle’.
For the most part, seesaw is the most commonly-used term across the U.S., while teeter totter is the second. Teeter totter is mainly used across the northern inland states, west of the Continental Divide, and coast.
Unlike the U.S., in other English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom, seesaw is most used.
The popularity of seesaws and teeter totters
While they used to be common in playgrounds around the world, seesaws are less regularly seen.
Seesaws were introduced over a century ago, and became an essential part of nearly every playground in the U.S.
However, as people’s concerns about risk and harm have increased – as well as worries about litigation – seesaws have become less popularly included in playgrounds around.
Why seesaws and teeter-totters are awesome fun?
There are so many reasons why kids love teeter-totters and seesaws.
While they can come in a variety of designs, whatever the design and however many ‘seats’ there are, they all operate using torque.
Torque is a force that produces rotation.
If you have played around on the seesaw, then you will have noticed that the further away from the centre you are, the easier it is to get the other side to move.
Seesaws and teeter-totters are based on this concept to provide fun with two (or more) kids riding.
For instance, when one child sits on one end, pushing their feet off the ground, the other end moves an equal opposite distance.
And so kids can enjoy affecting one another’s movements up and down.
Teeter-totter Vs seesaw: what’s the difference?
Now that we have talked about seesaws and teeter-totters and how the terms are often used interchangeably, we will discuss why some people see a difference.
Both these backyard toys operate on the same concept of torque to enable fun.
Their original designs are considerably different.
Original Teeter Totter design
As the name suggests, a teeter-totter was designed to ‘teeter’ all over.
While the same up and down movement is produced, the original teeter-totter design also allowed all manner of side-to-side movement, since the centerpiece was a round attachment that allowed for circular motion.
Teeter-totters would be designed to be quite a bit smaller than some of the bigger seesaws you would see in playgrounds making for a neat and small activity for toddlers.
What is more, teeter-totters would often have more than one seat per ‘branch’.
Original Seesaw design
The original seesaws were basically much more a design than the teeter-totter.
In fact, their name was derived from the basic up and down sawing motion performed over the centre.
There is no side-to-side motion and they are just basically a simpler concept.
In a seesaw, the person who is off the ground could be several feet high.
This is why most playgrounds have gotten rid of this piece of equipment as they fear any repercussions and lawsuits.
Teeter-totter Vs seesaw: which is better?
If you are in the market for a piece of play equipment for your backyard, which one you get depends on the age of your kids.
For younger toddlers a teeter-totter is probably better, however, older kids will enjoy a larger seesaw more.
Depending on its size and weight restrictions, you might even get a go too!
Benefits of Teeter Totters and Seesaws
These outdoor toys are a great way for kids to learn about collaboration while having fun.
They are also excellent for getting an understanding about forces such as gravity.
Above all, they are just good old-fashioned fun!
Making a seesaw or teeter-totter as safe as is possible
If you purchase a seesaw or teeter totter, expect to establish some rules for your children to follow and supervise it.
Any outside toy can be a safety danger, but a seesaw or teeter totter is likely safe unless your children do not use it as it was designed to be used.
For instance, if someone stands on the seesaw seat and quickly jumps off the seesaw so the other person falls hard on the ground beside it.
Make sure your children are reminded to do the following:
- Only two children on the seesaw at a time. If there is no seat then there can be other people.
- No spectators nearby in case of injury.
- Use the handles.
- No sudden bounce and force that causes the other child to let go. Bounce deliberately and slowly.
- Always supervise the play, especially with toddlers or younger children.
Other considerations of safety
In addition to supervision, you should consider what is on the floor underneath the seesaw or teeter totter.
It is better to have it on a lawn, etc., than a hard floor such as a patio or concrete that could lead to scuffed knees and elbows or bumps to the head.
Final thoughts on teeter totter Vs seesaw
When discussing the topic, you may hear people call a teeter totter a seesaw or vice versa.
Originally, they were different ideas but now it is thought they could be the same thing. In its original conceptual design, a seesaw was an up and down garden toy that had two increasing seats. In contrast a teeter totter could possibly have more than two seats and obviously could move side to side as well as up and down.
Both garden toys have plenty of fun, but safety measures should be adhered to.
You may find less and less of these toys in adjacent parks and public playgrounds with districts worried (too much) about lawsuits but good hours of fun and learning can still be found with proper supervision and correct use of the seesaw or teeter totter.