Raising Twins: What Parents Want to Know (And What Twins Want to Tell Them) (Paperback)

~ Eileen M. Pearlman (Author), Jill Alison Ganon (Author) "When done the old-fashioned way (that is to say, in a candlelit room, without the presence of a laboratory technician), a man' sperm meets a..." (more)
Key Phrases: singleton child, twin relationship, parenting twins, Little League (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 1 edition (May 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062736809
• ISBN-13: 978-0062736802
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,534 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars watching my girls grow up, July 31, 2002

By A Customer

I bought this book as a follow up to Ganon's TWINS! My daughters just had their first birthdays so we're jumping the gun a bit with "Raising Twins" but my wife and I are already getting answers to many of the things we've been wondering about - such as dressing the girls and handling their birthday parties and there is a lot of very good information about schooling and socializing for twins all the way through their teen years. The conversations with twins themselves from six year olds through twins in their teens and early twenties are fun and in some cases very touching. I recommend this book without reservation.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars finally-a book that looks at twins from grade school to high, August 2, 2000

A Kid's Review

I was looking for co-author Ganon's book TWINS! for my niece who is pregnant with twins, when we found this treasure. I have twins (a boy and a girl - age 11), and they thumbed through the book, going straight to the interviews with various sets of twins. We all got a real kick out of it and I have already found a lot of thoughtful information- particularly on the question of twins balancing their individual and twin identities. Bravo-finally a book that goes well beyond the pre school years. I also recommend Ganon's other book TWINS for twin pregnancy and the first year. I will be ordering both for x-mas presents for friends.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific New Reference Material, May 15, 2000

By	Mark Sanders (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

While there are dozens of good books in the market on giving birth to twins, this new reference book breaks ground in offering valuable advice on the delicate task of raising twins.

Peppered with many, many interviews with twins of all ages, the authors of this book have put together an easy-to-read, fascinating and useful guide on raising twins from adolescence through young adulthood.

Highly recommended to all parents of multiples (not just twins)!