Product Description

Raising Twins guides you through the physical, emotional, and cognitive developmental differences and challenges specific to twins. Straightforward and reassuring, this book addresses the key issues that impact twins from babyhood all the way through adolescence:

• Sharing and comparisons

• Competition and rivalry

• The "secret language" of twins

• The good twin/bad twin myth

• Teen-specific issues like dating and applying for college

• And much more including lively, candid discussions with twins and their parents

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #85836 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-01
• Released on: 2000-05-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780062736802
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

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.

Review
"The "Twin Talk" interviews in Raising Twins provide priceless, rare opportunities for parents to truly understand twins, as individuals and as multiples." -- Barbara C. Unell, coauthor of The Eight Seasons of Parenthood and founder of Twins Magazine

"Raising Twins is a 'must have' for parents of twins. The educational and statistical information was insightful and blended perfectly with personal conversations with the twins and parents. All readers will get a great insight into the minds of twins and how we envision our own selves as twins." -- Debra and Lisa Ganz, authors of The Book of Twins: A Celebration in Words and Pictures and owners of Twins Restaurant, NYC.

"Raising Twins offers a rich blend of practical guidance, personal narrative and illustrative cases that parents raising multiple birth children and teens need to know. The virtual explosion in birth rates of twins, triplets and quadruplets makes the need for this information greater than ever before. Raising Twins will be welcomed by the many mothers and fathers confronting the countless challenges lying ahead." -- Nancy L. Segal, Ph.D., professor of psychology, California State University, Fullerton and author of Entwined Lives: Twins and What They Tell Us About Human Behavior

"Raising Twins provides useful, easy-to-understand information and practical guidance that will help parents face the joys and challenges that come with raising multiples." -- Alan H. Klein, M.D., coauthor of Twins! Pregnancy, Birth and the First Year of Life and Caring for Your Premature Baby

Customer Reviews

watching my girls grow up
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.

finally-a book that looks at twins from grade school to high
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.

Terrific New Reference Material
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)!