Amazon.com Review
They may be identical, but they're not interchangeable--that's just one of the many things twins want you to know. Understanding the developmental differences between twins and singletons--and indeed between twin siblings themselves--not only helps parents of multiples, it also helps teachers, coaches, and pediatricians become more sensitive in relating to these special duos, whose occurrence is on the rise. In
Raising Twins, coauthors Eileen M. Pearlman, Ph.D. (herself an identical twin) and Jill Alison Ganon present a guidebook that studies the unique development of multiples from toddlerhood through young adulthood, paying close attention to the special challenges twins face. The first quarter of the book contrasts the cognitive, emotional, and physical development of multiples against that of singletons, touching on topics like speech, socializing, peer pressure, and the journey toward independence. Parental testimonials and an intriguing chapter about twin myths from around the world are followed by a hodgepodge chapter called "Getting Down to Business." Here the authors neatly explain the practical differences between handling twins and singletons, tossing in tips on safety, toilet habits, travel, and play dates. The authors' advice often comes straight from parents who've been there as well as the subjects themselves, who address topics like sharing, fighting, and jealousy, as well as the quite comical "Things that people shouldn't say or ask us." With its clear, intelligent content and bite-sized topic coverage,
Raising Twins makes an excellent resource for any adult involved in this happy task.
--Liane Thomas
From Publishers Weekly
With twin and multiple births "skyrocketing" (the number of twin births in the U.S. rose 52 % from 1980 to 1997, according to the authors), this unusual parenting guide is timely. Much of the parenting literature on twins concentrates on pregnancy and infancy, but Pearlman, a twin herself as well as a family therapist, and coauthor Ganon (Twins!) have expanded the discussion of twinship to cover the early school years and adolescence. While some of the text also applies to the development of "singletons," the authors emphasize characteristics specific to twins, such as the "secret language" twins often share and how their unique bond begins. They also urge parents to help twins establish and maintain separate identities, advising against dressing twins alike and encouraging parents to spend time alone with each child. School issues--for instance, whether to keep twins in the same class--are also discussed. Candid interviews with twins of various ages are interspersed throughout. This will be a useful resource for parents who want to look beyond infancy at the singular experience of raising twins from birth to early adulthood. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
