Post # 1
Member
220 posts
Helper bee
So, i have younger brothers who are twins and are going to be starting primary school in September. Their school has suggested that the twins should be in different classes at school and my Mum doesn’t know what to do.
She asked the boys what they thought and the eldest twin was on the verge of tears (similar to when you tell your kid their pet has died) whilst the younger twinsaid he didnt mind.
Theres pro’s and con’s to both situations, and with the oldest twin seeming to be more reliant to the younger twin, in one respect might benefit more by being apart so he can work on his own identity, as opposed to his ‘twin indentity’, but also by being separated – it might also go the other way and cause him to wihtdraw in himself.
I’m just interested to see what anybody else did, and what your reasons for doing what you did were?
Thanks
Post # 3
Member
92 posts
Worker bee
I am a twin and we were always seperated until we where in Middle School. We got to play together during recess and such. So I think it was a good thing. My sister has twins and they are in the same classes.
Post # 4
Member
7609 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I don’t have twins, but I am a teacher who has taught at schools that did separate twins and schools that didn’t. I think that since the kids are so young, it would be good for them to be separated. Is kindergarten (age 4 and 5) a half day like it is here?
Once the kids get older, it might be easier for their parents to have them in the same class so that they’re covering the same material and have the same projects at the same time. For the little ones, though, I think it’s great for them to be apart and develop socially.
Post # 5
Member
163 posts
Blushing bee
I put other, I am a twin we were seperated. However we moved a lot and at a few schools we were in the same class.
I am glad we were seperated because you develope your own identiy and friends. It will be an adjustment but it will be better in the end. You do not want them to become completly reliant on one another. It also helps inside the class room with arguments and such, it gives them a break from one another. Have your mom or the teachers tell each boy where the others class is just so they know the other is safe and where they are. Good luck to your mom
Post # 6
Member
220 posts
Helper bee
they are at play school at the minute – which is 2 full days (9am – 3.30pm) and a half day (am till lunch) and in September they are going to start full time school, 9(am till 3.30 pm Mon-Fri)
At play school they are in the same class, but they play with different children and sit apart (by choice) at lunch time. The decision would be that once they start full time school, they would either be in the same class (similar situation to what they are now) or to be in different classes for everything.
Just wanted different opinions from people who arent caught up in it, y’know?
Post # 7
Member
3626 posts
Sugar bee
In my elementary school, twins were always split; it wasn’t optional. I think it’s a good idea.
Post # 8
Member
813 posts
Busy bee
I don’t have twins, but just weighing in with experience! I have a few sets of twins that I went through school with an during gr jk to grade 8 they were never ever in the same class. In high school occaisonally they fell into the same class. It seemed to work fine. My sister is only a year younger than me, and one year we were in the same split class. I hated it.. just brought up more competiton, arguing.. etc.
Post # 9
Member
3982 posts
Honey bee
I don’t have kids but my little sisters are twins so I can say from experience with them, seperation is a great thing. My sisters started out in the same classes with the same teachers but when one was held back in kindergarten (Yes, the do that) and the other progressed to first grade they weren’t just seperated by classes but by grades. It was great for them! The one in the lower grade was given multiple opportunities to move up with her sister but she didn’t want to. The both loved having their own set of friends, their own experiences, and since they share everything else, the ability to have their own first days of high school, proms, graduations, etc. They really loved their individuality there because at home, they were “the twins”. They shared everything else so to have their own life at school, they still say they wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. So, from experience with them, I say seperation is a great thing! It gives them a chance to develope their own identity away from their sibling.
Post # 10
Member
112 posts
Blushing bee
I am a twin & we were separated in school. It was a good decision in my opinion! We developed more individuality in my opinion.
Post # 11
Member
1888 posts
Buzzing bee
I’m a twin, and we were separated. In fact, we didn’t have a class together until our Senior year of high school, and then it was weird!!! I am all for separating– twins need to have their own identities.
Post # 12
Member
2031 posts
Buzzing bee
We used to have twin boys in our pre-school that went to a special school each morning. They were together for a while, but were separated at the age of 3ish so they could get the focus they each needed. Their mom was scared because they’d never been apart and were so young, but they boys did great! They loved it because they had stories to tell each other afterschool everyday about what they did and who said what.
When I was in school, I knew twin boys from Kindergarten straight through 12th grade. They were never in the same class, and didn’t seem to mind at all.
Post # 13
Member
247 posts
Helper bee
I am a twin and we went to seperate schools and we loved it
Post # 14
Member
284 posts
Helper bee
I have to say as a teacher and having twin brothers: separation is best. It helps them with individuality. It’s a big skill for kids to develop especially when times goes on. The change might be hard, but after a while they will have their own school stories to tell and a wide variety of friends. Hope that helps!
Post # 15
Member
86 posts
Worker bee
My cousins are triplets, and are all in seperate classes. It definitely helps with independence and indivuduality. I think it’s a great idea, and as a future teacher, I think that children who are multiples, should be in seperate classes, but that’s just my opinion.
Post # 16
Member
220 posts
Helper bee
Thanks for the responses! its useful to get different opinions!
My mum has decided on keeping them in the same class for the first year if school. The school they are attending split each class into different groups for maths, english, P.E. etc, so althought they will be in the same class, they will be in different groups for different subjects, to give them time to adjust, and then for them to go into different classes in the next school year.
