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Twins are lucky. They have a constant playmate and companion that will grow and develop in a very similar way. Though twins often have distinct personalities, the bond shared between the two siblings is quite special and unique.
As a parent, it may seem like a luxury if your twins are constantly occupied with each other, but it’s also important to make sure that their activities are varied. Spending time with other peers that aren’t related to your twins will be very beneficial to their social development. Without the formation of social bonds outside the family, twins can become too fixated or dependent on their counterparts. While it’s excellent for twins to foster a connection with each other, it’s important that they’re still comfortable with other children as well.
Setting up play dates is a good way to make time for socialization without being too much of an influence on the children’s play. It can also give parents an opportunity to get to know each other better as well.
If you schedule a play date, try to come up with activities the children can play that will influence a creative spirit. Don’t just set them in front of a TV, try to get them excited about something that will challenge their imaginations.
Painting is a great activity for both large groups of children and your twins on their own. You can set up a finger painting studio by laying down newspaper to protect your floor and tables. Let the children paint without much guidance so that they’re driven to create what inspires them. Brushes and paint can also be bought fairly cheaply, as well as large rolls of paper that are excellent for creating wall scrolls. You can hang several pieces on a wall that can be painted and drawn on.
Sidewalk chalk is another great artistic medium for kids to indulge in. It’s especially great for twins because one sibling can draw one half of a picture while the other draws the second half. The two halves will create one special creature that will be a delight until the next rain comes.
One of the perks of getting children engaged in arts and crafts, is that it keeps them fairly quiet. Even a large group of children can be kept quiet with the right art supplies and encouragement. They’ll be so intently focused on their masterpiece, that yelling at their sibling will be anchored to the very back of their minds.
If you want to do something more hands on and 3-Dimensional, help your twins build a club house. A small playhouse can be built with just simple cardboard, glue and tape. Though a hot glue gun may seem dangerous for small children, they can be taught to use them safely under supervision. You can also use low temperature glue guns which won’t burn small fingers as much if they accidentally touch the metal tip.
Don’t be too fearful though, for a hot glue burn is nothing serious and will also teach children to be more careful. Hot glue dries immediately, which is certainly an asset to keeping your child’s wavering attention. The benefits and instant gratification provided from hot glue is unmatched by white glue, which takes forever to dry and gets messy. It ends up being nothing but frustrating to a child trying to create. Hot glue will absolutely spark a child’s creative interest, so don’t hesitate to let them use it, even if they have to wear gloves!
Creative activities don’t need to be limited to craft projects either. If your twins have a flair for drama, you could encourage them to set up their own play. Charades is also a game that can be tailored to suit children; acting out a dinosaur is fun for any kid.
So let your twins soak up as much creative stimulation as they can get through play. While passive activities like watching movies and playing video games have their place, it’s important that they don’t over-saturate your child’s life. Keeping them involved in creative play will do wonders for bolstering their confidence and ability to achieve in the future.
Naomi Esterly is like your ordinary modern-day mom. When she is not busy taking care of her kids and husband she finds time to read and write for 1800Wheelchair.Com. In this guest post she gives us suggestions on how to make play time more creative for your twins!
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