Parenting Information

Fraternal Twin Parenting Concerns

Recommended Book

Available for
Immediate Download


Identity and Your Fraternal Twin

For the most part, throughout this article I refer to a fraternal twin in the singular rather than the plural "twins." This is to emphasize the individuality of each twin. Too often twins are defined only by their being a part of a whole, rather than by their own individual identity. This can be very damaging emotionally, especially during the time children are struggling to establish their own self worth and place in the world.

Treat your fraternal twin as the autonomous, unique child they are. Genetically, fraternal twins are no more similar than their siblings who were born one at a time, and they certainly have personalities all their own. DNA tests can be performed to determine which type of twins your children are - fraternal, identical, etc. Far too often people look too hard for similarities between fraternal twins that simply aren't there - and in the meanwhile, they miss the opportunity to get to know each twin individually.

As a parent, do everything in your power to encourage each twin as they develop their own identities. If one wants to play soccer and the other has a passion for bagpipes, encourage each of them to work hard and excel at what they want to do. You will be doing the twins and the world a gross disservice by pigeon-holing both children into the same activity just because they happened to be born at the same time.

At the same time you are encouraging and accepting the difference between your fraternal twin and her brother, accentuate the similarities. There is no doubt your twins will share a special bond, if for no other reason than that they are growing up with a sibling their same age. The bond that fraternal twins share can be the source of love and support throughout their lives, and you would hate to destroy that by being overeager to make them lead different lives.Dressing Your Twins Alike

When they are little, it probably matters very little what you dress your twins in. But when your fraternal twin starts to become conscious of the fact that she is different than most people, you will need to be especially sensitive to her needs with regards to establishing her individual identity. Simply put, if your children like being dressed the same, do it; if they don't, do them and yourself the favor of letting them wear different clothes.

In the end, as is the case with all children, there is no clear cut answer when it comes to the best way to raise your twins. Learn everything you can from those who have been there and done that, but trust your parental intuition and do what's best for your kids. Finally, remember that "the most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home."

Nick Smith is an internet marketing specialist with an advertising idea for you. For more information about DNA testing for your fraternal twin, visit Genetree.com.

Recommended Resource

Available for
Immediate Download


MORE RESOURCES:

Authors Debate The Merits Of Parenting Advice
NPR
Ada Calhoun, author of Instinctive Parenting, makes the case that children will turn out fine if parents simply trust their gut. But Po Bronson, co-author ...
Do We Parent By The Book Or By The Gut?NPR (blog)
Instinctive Parenting: Q and A with Ada CalhounTrue/Slant
Point: Close The Parenting Book, Trust Your InstinctsNPR
NPR
all 9 news articles »


Parenting Your New Puppy
Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
Your pup is not being naughty, it is being a dog. Pups don't go potty in the house for spite or out of anger. Dogs need your guidance and patience to learn ...

and more »


Parenting? There's an app for that
Boston Globe (blog)
And we're not just talking iPhones here -- there are plenty of parenting apps for Droids and Blackberrys, too. I've taken a look at some of the newest apps ...



Parenting from the trenches — Facing, maybe preventing teen substance abuse
NCAdvertiser.com
Seventy-seven percent of high school students report obtaining alcohol at home, with or without parent permission.” I think we can all agree that it's ...

and more »


Psychology Today (blog)

Parenting as Propaganda
Psychology Today (blog)
As a parenting researcher, there was a lot of new material, much of it focusing on the fine distinction between adolescent privacy and adolescent secrecy. ...
Reasons why parents abuse children in Saudi societySaudi Gazette
How to Deal with an Angry ToddlerGather.com
Bonnie Carroll: Protecting Children From The Tragedy of Ugly Custody Battles ...Arcata Eye
parentcentral.ca -Gather.com
all 8 news articles »


TheaterMania.com

Ty Burrell
People Magazine
He may play a hapless father of three on the hit show Modern Family, but Ty Burrell had little real-life parenting experience to draw on – until now. ...
Modern Family: Ty Burrell Is Now a Dad! So Will He Be Just Like Phil? He Tells UsE! Online (blog)

all 7 news articles »


Swan: Grade-A gay 'parent' saved a child from two-parent straight home
Palm Beach Post
He traded his two-parent home in the Midwest for a single-parent abode in Florida. At 12, he discerned that his odds of success were better if his uncle ...



Men involved with child care may hurt women's self-esteem
msnbc.com
Coders then watched video recordings of the discussions and rated each participant's perceptions of his or her spouse's parenting, which included the ...

and more »


Library Journal

Parenting Short Takes: Health, Heroes & Motor Skills
Library Journal
Outlining the "five simple rules" for a healthy weight, coupled with identifying your parenting style and then outlining "ten healthy messages to send your ...



Christian Post (blog)

The Parenting Thrill Ride
Christian Post (blog)
Parenting is rarely like a pleasant but slightly boring turn on a carousel. It's usually more like a heart-stopping and unpredictable ...


Google News

home | site map
© 2006