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Childcare for Twins: How it Panned Out For Other Twin Families

Twiniversity — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Getting to the end of parental leave and trying to decide about who to have help watch your infant or toddler twins during the day. Or just needing an extra set of hands to care for your dynamic duo? Thinking about childcare for twins may feel overwhelming, so here’s a quick look at what other twin parents decided on and how it worked out! One of the more challenging decisions (don’t they all feel challenging though?) you’ll have to make as a twin parent is figuring out a childcare option that feels right for you. So if you’re feeling a bit frazzled by this doubly stressful situation, know that you’re not alone! And keep reading for a look at what other twin parents did and how it worked out for them. We recently asked our twin parent community: What was your experience with your initial daycare option for your twins? Did it work out great? Did you have to pivot? Here’s what twin parents had to say: We had to pivot… “Currently going through it. We’ve been on a waitlist since December (twins born in April) and found out last week that the daycare might not have a space for them after all. I go back to work next week and we are touring two new daycares later this week! SMH! Luckily we have lots of help, but we thought we had this all figured out!” — vamirasolo “My mom is our main support, but got a nanny from 12 months to 15 months. My twins are now 3 years old and I’m considering hiring help again.” — mahinour “We started out at a nursery 2 days a week but had to pivot to a childminder due to cost (we’re in the UK).” — Lillouwho2 “Had to drop to only 3 days a week because the cost for 5 was more than I ever imagined.” — defranco “Pivoted and I quit my job.” — mrs.carriejohnson “Fail. Daycare for 2 months then quit my job. I was miserable missing them and it was expensive.” — karenmgilbert “Not so great. A month in, we had to find a new daycare, but it worked out better. The kids love this one!” — Zaheedavirani It worked out great! “Nanny at 4 months till 2 1/2. It was the most economical for us. We had an amazing nanny!” — kylez_vrussel “Not sure if this counts, but when my twins were 18 months old I started taking them to the gym daycare so that I could get back into the gym. They’re now 25 months old.” — leannaivic “It [daycare] was a hard no. Found a nanny ASAP!” – ajacks_244 “It worked, but it was mind-boggingly expensive. We poached a caregiver as a nanny.” — robinofspring “We hired a nanny. It was for affordable for us and they are thriving!” — orangespoken “Couldn’t afford two in daycare at once so I stayed home with them!” — sam.campanaro “Kindergarten. In Austria it’s free. Till they go to the first school. But we waited as long as possible. Our twins were almost 3 years old before they went. The experience was great!” – PaCo One twin mom’s childcare for twins saga We live in the U.S. and unfortunately my school did not offer disability insurance or any sort of paid leave. So our first tough decision was to extend my maternity leave and go with reduced pay. This meant that I got to be home with the babies until they were 6 months (since part of the leave was during our summer break from school). Yet, we were definitely in a bit of a financial pinch. Then from 7 months through almost 2 years, we ended up qualifying for a homecare nurse since both of our twins came home with feeding tubes and required a great deal of medical care on top of typical newborn care. Once they no longer qualified for that care though by age 2, we had to figure out a new daycare plan. At that point in time, paying for full-time daycare for two toddlers didn’t feel like the right option for us. So after only 1 year back in the classroom after having the twins, I left my job as a teacher and became self-employed as a freelance copywriter. This meant that I was home with the babies full time and trying to fit in freelance work during nap times and after bedtime (very tiring! but mostly worth it). But by the time they were about 28 months, it no longer felt manageable to watch them on my own. Most nights I had little energy left to devote to my fledgling business (which we needed to support some of our family’s bills). So we tried out having a babysitter (who we found through Care.com) come over to help three days a week for a few hours over the summer. That worked out okay, but we wanted the kids to be able to get out of the house more and interact with other toddlers in a more structured setting. Personally, my journey with this was a little all over the place. I was a high school teacher when I became pregnant with the twins. As the pregnancy progressed, and we developed some complications and then eventually landed ourselves a 3-month NICU stay, I realized we were going to need to be flexible (and creative) when it came to childcare options. By the time they turned 2.5, we decided to officially enroll them in part-time daycare three mornings a week at a Montessori daycare. While this still felt like a bit of a stretch, we ended up loving the daycare! (Thank goodness!) Looking back, the journey of twin daycare options was really wonky for us, but I feel like it all worked out in the end. Now, our twins are 3.5, and they will be going back to the same daycare Monday through Friday (just in the mornings still). This will give me plenty of… Continue Reading Childcare for Twins: How it Panned Out For Other Twin Families

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Co-Regulation Techniques to Try With Twins of All Ages

Twiniversity — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

As a twin parent, tantrums and certain behaviors in general can feel extra overwhelming–for both you and your twinnies. So we’ve rounded up some helpful co-regulation techniques and self-regulation strategies for kids that you can use to better navigate all those challenging moments. You may have heard of the terms self-regulation and co-regulation before. But what do they actually refer to, and why are they important to you as a twin parent? What are self-regulation and co-regulation? Self-regulation is the ability to calm your own emotions and your body back to a state where you function at your best. A person who can self-regulate is able to monitor their own behavior, judge their own behavior, and react to their own behavior. Self-regulation has been shown to improve your emotional well-being, your perception of social support, and your overall life satisfaction. As such, self-regulation is an essential skill for an adult. And of course, it becomes your job as a parent to teach this skill to your twins. But, babies, toddlers, and young children aren’t able to self-regulate on their own right away. So, that’s where co-regulation comes in! Co-regulation is modeling regulation by engaging in regulating behaviors with someone. Through this mutual act, children eventually learn to regulate themselves. There are many co-regulation techniques you can carry out with your twins. Read on to learn ways you can model self-regulation strategies for kids every age. Co-regulation techniques for newborns and infants When your twins are first born, they require the support of a caregiver to satisfy all of their needs. So just as you assist your tiny twinnies with feeding and cleaning, it’s also important to help them with their emotional regulation. If you’re worried that this will require extra work on your part, don’t despair! Luckily, many acts that you naturally engage in with your twin-fants are inherently co-regulatory. For example, rocking a crying baby or singing a lullaby are both regulatory acts. Other co-regulation techniques you can try out with your babies include: Of course as infants, they won’t be able to perform these self-regulation strategies on their own for quite a while. But through these co-regulation techniques, you are helping them with the vital task of stabilizing their nervous system. This will help them more consistently be in an emotional state where they can learn new skills (like feeding and self-soothing). Now, what about when those twinnies of yours reach their first birthday and beyond? How should your approach to co-regulation change? More on this age-group next! Co-regulation techniques for toddlers and preschoolers As your twins mature into toddlerhood and go on to preschool, they become more aware of the patterns in their sensations and emotions. That’s why at this age, it’s essential for parents to begin using language to help their children begin to name and make more sense of these feelings. Also keep in mind that toddlers and preschoolers get excited for chances to move and play. So this is a super helpful approach to co-regulation for this age group. Here are some co-regulation techniques to try with your toddler twins: 1. Breathing strategies At this age, have your child look at you so they can watch and observe the physical signs of breathing. To help with this, encourage your twins to make a bubble with their tummy while breathing. You could also show them the Sesame Street Belly Breath video and then encourage belly breaths when they are upset. Another helpful slow breathing technique is pretending to suck air through a straw or inhaling and exhaling while tracing the outline of your fingers. (Inhale when you you up a finger, and exhale when you go down a finger.) 2. The power of a hug Toddlers and preschoolers still tend to love hugs to help regulate. But if they’re not in the mood for a hug, you can also teach them other ways to get this need met. For example, your twins can hug a stuffed animal or use a weighted lap pad for a similar hug effect. They can also do a self-hug the Daniel Tiger way: Give a squeeze nice and slow (they hug themselves). Take a deep breath, and let it go. 3. Start talking about feelings Help your child learn the words for the things they are feeling in their bodies and what those emotions might be associated with. For example, you can say something like: “Your face is getting very red. I think you might be feeling angry right now. Do you feel angry?” Or to help your twins recognize emotions outside of themselves: “Your brother is crying. It looks like he’s feeling sad right now. How can we help him if he’s feeling upset?” Here’s an example of a book that’s helpful for naming and talking about emotions with your toddler twins! 4. Physical activities, games, and art Games that involve lots of body movement like Red Light, Green Light or Freeze Dance are great strategies to encourage a quick calming of the body. You could also make a safe “jump zone” in your living room with couch cushions or perform the Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes song. Another great self-regulation strategy for kids is to pretend to be a noodle. This can help them figure out how to relax their tense muscles. 5. Sensory toys Sensory toys are exactly what they sound like. Toys that engage one or more of your kiddos’ five senses! From simple play-dough to elaborate water tables, the options are seemingly limitless! Glitter wands provide fascinating visual stimuli, while crinkle paper is both fun to feel and hear. Pop-its are an easy-to-use, mess-free sensory option that you can find pretty much everywhere nowadays. You can even put together your own sensory bins full of items like beads, putty, puff balls, and bright colors. Or for a full-body sensory experience, you could pour a bag of rice or corn kernels into a large box for your twins to sit in. Want some inspiration for… Continue Reading Co-Regulation Techniques to Try With Twins of All Ages

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Tips for a Healthy School Year

Amanda Hadley — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:30:00 +0000

All content on this website, including medical opinions and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others. Summer is rounding to an end, and the dust is settling. It’s time for back-to-school shopping and getting back into that school routine. We know all the “stuff” we need to start the year off right, but how do you prepare for a healthy school year? I’m not just referring to physical health, either. So, let’s talk about how we can help our kids kick off the school year prepared, physically and emotionally. Physical Health Making sure that your kids move their bodies and get the right amount of exercise will help them stay focused and energized during those long school days. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, physical health has a small but significant effect on the mental and emotional health of children and adolescents ages 6 to 18. Exercise has many wonderful benefits, including increased energy and improved concentration. It also helps reduce stress, boost self-confidence, and increase mental alertness. Encourage your children to go outside for activities such as walking the dog, biking, or playing at the park for 20 to 30 minutes every day after school. Emotional Health Another important way to help your child prepare for a healthy school year is to ensure they have an emotional outlet. This could mean talking through their feelings, writing in a journal, or even playing music or other forms of art. Acknowledging their emotions is key to helping your children cope with stress and build resilience. Practical Tips to Start the Year Off Healthy In addition to physical and emotional health, there are a few practical tips to help your kids stay healthy during the school year. Start Your days with gratitude and thankfulness. This hasn’t been something I’ve been doing for a while, but we recently started practicing this after reading the book Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World written by Kristen Welch. It was an eye-opener for me. Starting our day in the right mindset has really made a difference in our home. God has given us another day to be thankful for. We are not promised tomorrow. No matter what your age is, you can make a small difference in your attitude and outlook on life. Plus, gratitude helps us to focus on the positive and appreciate what we have. Teaching our kids to focus on the things they are thankful for can help them stay positive and optimistic throughout the school year. Look For Ways to Offer Kindness Look for opportunities to offer kindness to others inside and outside your home. It can be anything from a simple note to helping someone with their shopping cart. No act of kindness is ever too small. At the start of the school year, it is important to create a culture of kindness and respect amongst students, staff, and faculty. One way to offer kindness at school is by encouraging active listening skills. Modeling active listening skills in the classroom can help foster an atmosphere of respect. Another way to offer kindness is by helping others be included. Inviting someone new into the group will help foster an inclusive environment. Offering compliments to others can go a long way in promoting kindness. Complimenting classmates on their work, their wardrobe, or their behavior will help create an atmosphere of positivity and respect in the classroom. Don’t ever hesitate to give someone a compliment, it might just make their day! Healthy Breakfast I encourage my kids to pick a healthy breakfast. I have even taught my 7- and 9-year-old how to make their own eggs. We don’t do juice in the morning, and I believe this helps with not having a quick sugar drop while at school. We also incorporate daily vitamins and probiotics. Keep your vitamins where you will look at them often to remind yourself and your kids to take them. This will help make them part of your daily routine. Get Outside I say this every day to my kids, and guess what? It works. Creative minds mixed with some good old Vitamin D from the sun does a kid good. Getting to a beach or park is great but not realistic in our day-to-day life. Walking is something we can easily do every day, so we started incorporating family walks into our day. Walking gives us a chance to talk to our kids, laugh, and say hello to neighbors. It’s healthy for the mind and body. Walking releases endorphins, which naturally makes you feel good inside and lowers stress. Creativity and Mindfulness Make time for creative activities. Whether it’s drawing, painting, or building with Legos, creative activities can be great stress relievers for kids and adults. Encourage your children to engage in mindful activities, such as yoga, listening to music, or deep breathing. Mindfulness is a great way for kids to learn how to be present and in the moment, as well as reduce stress levels. Hand Washing Another way to ensure your children stay healthy is by teaching them good hand-washing habits. I keep sanitizer handy wherever we go. Our most important after-school rule is sanitizer in the car and hand washing when we get home. We have smaller kids in our family, so with the increase of germs being brought home, it is essential that hands are washed before playing with the babies. Once you start making it routine, it becomes a beautiful habit. Get Organized To help your kids have a successful and healthy start to the school year, it’s important to create a plan that sets them up for success. This plan should include… Continue Reading Tips for a Healthy School Year

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Fostering Independence in Twins

Amanda Hadley — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

I’m that mom that LOVES to dress my twins the same. I’m the one thinking up Halloween costumes only twins can pull off, and I am guilty of overusing #twinning. But as my twins get older, I’ve started to intentionally foster independence in my twinnies. (Oops, I did it again.) I have fraternal girl twins that are as different as night and day, but still, so many people see them as the same person. Independence is crucial for every child, but twins often have to work harder to get it. I must constantly remind myself, that although they shared a womb, and share a birthday, they are still two separate people. To encourage their individuality, I have been doing my best to observe their differences and unique traits. Here are a few tips I’ve learned, along with a couple of bonus side effects. Honor their Preferences As with many parents of twins, I have one twin that is the natural leader, and the other that follows her sister around. I had to learn how they like to spend quality time so I could boost the confidence of my little follower. One of my littles loves sitting together on the couch watching a show or reading a book. The other loves going out on adventures and exploring. Each is important and I strive to do these things each day so that they both get what they need. I also let them make their own choices when it comes to snacks, toys, or art projects. These little things make a difference. When they are encouraged to pick what they want, they are more confident in making decisions. Which in turn allows them to build their own identity. Let Them Choose One of the first steps in fostering independence in twins is allowing them to make their own decisions. This could be as simple as letting them choose which shirt they want to wear or what activity they want to do for the day. Now that my twins are three, I can no longer force them into matching outfits. Rather, I let them pick out what they feel like wearing. One is into dresses and shoes, the other would rather wear nothing but we settle for a t-shirt and pants. There are special occasions like family pictures where I may bribe them to dress alike, but in general, I let them have ownership of getting ready in the morning. (Be prepared that people may ask you, “how far apart are they?” and when you answer, “Two minutes!” they are surprised. It gets harder to identify fraternal twins when they aren’t matching.) Giving them a sense of control over their choices helps build confidence and autonomy. Separate Them in School This is for each family to decide when the timing is right and you will find zero judgment from me. We separated our twinnies this year, against my wishes, and it ended up being the best decision ever. They now have their own friends, aren’t constantly compared to one another by teachers, and have very different conversations about how their days went. Plus, in the long run, separate classes could lead to better academic performance. Twins easily become too dependent on each other, limiting their individual abilities and academic skills. Separating them can help them develop their own strengths and how to work independently. I have noticed their confidence increase and they no longer stick together like glue all the time, just most of the time. One-On-One Time Spending one-on-one time with each twin gives you the opportunity for them to have your undivided attention, and you to have theirs. This helps them feel valued and important. It also allows you to focus on their individual needs and interests, which can help foster their independence. During this one-on-one time, allow them to make decisions about what they want to do or where they want to go. This can help boost their confidence in decision-making and allow them to feel more in control of their own lives. Avoid Comparisons This is a hard one, even for non-twin-baring parents. If it feels like one is falling behind the other, it’s hard not to compare them. But try. Remember that even though they share a birthday, they are two separate people. Focus on their individual strengths and accomplishments, and try not to refer to them as a unit (I know this might just be the hardest tip of them all)! Overall, fostering independence in twins is crucial for their development and can have many positive effects on their identity, problem-solving skills, and accountability. By honoring their preferences, letting them choose their own clothes, separating them in school (if appropriate), and spending one-on-one time with each twin, parents can help their twins become more independent individuals. Remember to avoid comparisons and encourage problem-solving to further support their growth. With these strategies in place, you can help your twins thrive and become confident, capable individuals. Bonus #1 Would you believe me if I told you that by fostering independence in your twins, they may actually have a stronger bond? WHAT! I know, but it’s true. When twins are encouraged to develop their own interests and identities, they may actually share more with each other. Bonus #2 I have noticed that by encouraging them to be their own people, they are more helpful around the house. NO seriously. By giving my twinadoes a sense of independence, they crave responsibility and doing more things on their own. Case and point, tip number two. By letting them pick their own clothes, they want to get dressed on their own. Does this take a little longer? Yes. But if I plan ahead and make it fun, it becomes one less thing for me to do in the morning. Plus it gives them an immediate sense of accomplishment. One also likes to take care of the dog and the other likes to help with laundry. It’s a fun way to connect one-on-one with my twins… Continue Reading Fostering Independence in Twins

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Free NASA Virtual Field Trips For Twins (and singletons)

Natalie Diaz — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 17:04:45 +0000

Want to find fun things to do with your twins? Learn about the free NASA virtual field trips, perfect for families with twins, multiples, and singletons! Read more below. 🚀 Hey Twin Fam, today a very unique opportunity fell into my twin lap and I wanted to share it with you ASAP. Meeting with Twin Mom Alex I had the very fortunate pleasure of meeting a fellow twin mom, Alex today. She joined me for a podcast taping today to discuss her own twin birth story. The podcast will come out later this year but after our taping we were chit chatting and I discovered that Alex has one of the most fascinating jobs ever! She works for NASA! Sure, you may not be a space nut like I am, but you have to be excited about people who dedicate their lives to teaching about space. Believe it or not, I always wanted to be an astronaut when I was younger, but it turns out, me and math weren’t good friends. Still aren’t to be honest. Nasa Virtual Exploration OK, relax, I know you’re dying to know how you fit into this equation. (See what I did there?? Equation..math…ugh. Yeah, I told you we weren’t friends.) Well, Alex had an interesting offer for all our Twiniversity families out there. Here is what she said: "Hi, I’m Alex, a mom to 7 month old twin girls. I just wrapped up a podcast taping for the Twiniversity Podcast. Nat was incredibly interested in my career as an Education Specialist contracted to offer virtual experiences for NASA. As a fellow Twin mom, I am very excited to share this opportunity with everyone, nationwide! Our NASA base, the Ames Research Center, has unique on-site field trips that we offer to local schools in the bay area of California, near San Francisco. Once the Pandemic hit, we had to pivot to provide a virtual option and that's where you come in. We are now able to host schools all over North America! We've just opened our calendar up to ALL classrooms around the country and are able to facilitated a free, one-hour interactive program called the Ames Exploration Encounter for classes of 1st through 6th grade students. The goal is for them to experience science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in action. Free NASA Virtual Field Trips, Grades 1 through 6 Ok, so if you’d like Twin Mom Alex to join your twinnies virtually in class, all you have to do is forward this information to your twin’s teachers, school principal, school secretary, school events coordinator or anyone else that might be interested in having their students take part in these Free NASA virtual field trips. Remember, this virtual experience is only for grades 1 through 6. About the NASA Ames Exploration Encounter: You’re invited to join us virtually, (1 hour) or in person (2 hours) at our Mountain View, California location. Students will be immersed in one of 4 different lesson experiences that are aligned to Next Gen Standards. Currently educators can pick from the following lesson topics: Each lesson discusses the topic at an age-appropriate level, has time for a question-and-answer session, as well as a hands on activity. How the Ames Exploration Encounter Works: There are a few requirements to be eligible for the experience: To register an EDUCATOR must submit a registration via our NASA Gateway system. Registration is now OPEN and virtual sessions begin Wednesday, January 10th, 2023. (Click here to Register). View our website for session schedules and registration information. Ok, go dig up your twin’s teacher’s or principal’s email and send them a link to this page ASAP so they can read about this free NASA virtual field trip and get your children exploring today . If you have ANY questions for Alex, shoot them over to us at Community@Twiniversity.com and we will forward them to her directly. To Infinity and ….. well, you know the rest. Help Your Kids Explore Space With NASA’s Virtual Field Trips DOWNLOAD THIS PDF FOR EVEN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NASA FREE VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS!

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The Best Winter Hats for Kids

Amanda Hadley — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Cold weather means bundling up your littles, so you’re going to want to find the best winter hats for kids. We’ve done our research, and have found what we believe are the best winter hats this season. Read more below. My mom always told me to wear a hat in the cold because I lose 80% of my body heat through my head. For years, even as a young adult I believed her. Although technically that statement is actually false, for babies and toddlers it is actually true. Babies and toddlers typically have a large head compared to their body size, allowing for more heat to be lost. So when it’s cold outside, do as your mother said, and put a hat on your kids’ noggin. Ready to start shopping for hats? We’ve got you covered! Here is our list of the best functional and stylish winter hats for kids of all ages. Best Winter Hats For Babies (up to 18 months) When shopping for your littles, the best winter hat is one made from super-soft materials with ear flaps to keep ears covered and warm. For infants, a hat with a chin strap is always a good choice…less chance of falling off, being pulled off, and being lost! Snow Plaid Bomber by Brimmz This buffalo plaid bomber cotton hat is the best hat to keep your babes warm, plus they are ADORABLE! The earflaps are lined with wool and straps on each side with two buttons to snap the flaps up when needed. Complete with removable gray/black faux fur pompom on top. To purchase, click here. Knit Balaclava When extra coverage is needed, or when the kids prefer a strap-free hat, a balaclava is a great option. This pullover hat is made from a stretchy soft cotton blend, with a plush fleece- lining for an extra layer of insulation against the cold. The longer style also covers the neck, for even more warmth and comfort. To purchase, click here. The North Face Bear Suave OSO Beanie The North Face Kids Bear Suave Oso Beanie is a no-frills winter hat. But it doesn’t need the frills, because it’s made by The North Face. That alone makes it one of the best winter hats for kids. This beanie will give your kids the warmth they need from the cozy raschel fleece and hook-and-loop chin strap, but also has a cute bear ears detail. Plus, it is machine washable. To purchase, click here. Best Winter Hats for Toddlers (up to 4 years old) As your children get older, ideally a chin strap is not needed (they are actually hard to find for older kids) so style can come into play more. But remember to choose function or fashion when picking a winter hat for your kids. Carhartt Watch Hat Beanie Carhartt’s warm and winter-approved Watch Hat is a popular choice for both kids and adults because of its simplicity, fit, and array of colors. This is a beloved beanie by many celebrities, due to the mommy and me capability; find a cute beanie for yourself, and get your mini-me one to match! Carhartt beanies are made in the USA from 100% acrylic materials, making them stretchy, durable, and warm. To purchase, click here. Home Prefer Skull Beanie Cap with Earflaps The Home Prefer Skull knit beanie is soft and lightweight. Made of stretchable acrylic yarn and is a comfortable fit for both girls and boys. With this winter hat, you get extra warmth with the faux fur inside and extended sides to keep ears warm, but without the discomfort of a chin strap. A great winter hat for everyday use. To purchase, click here. Lands End Kids Trapper Hat The Lands End Kids Trapper hat sheds the wet stuff, keeps their noggin and ears warm, plus adjusts for a secure fit. The faux fur lining provides warmth, while the 100% polyester shell is wind and waterproof making this winter hat both functional and stylish. To purchase, click here. Twiniversity Tip: start putting hats on your kids at a young age (I’m talking still in the hospital young). The more your kids wear hats the less they will want to pull them off. Best Winter Hats for Young Kids (5 to 7 years old) When your kids hit elementary school, they will have an opinion on the hat they will be wearing. Prepare yourself for this! Luckily, there are plenty of functional and fashionable winter hats for all boys and girls. The North Face Kids’ Forrest Fleece Trapper Blustery winds and cold weather are no match for warm fleece and WindWall™ technology in the brim and ear flaps of the Kids’ Forrest Fleece Trapper. Complete with a Shock Cord toggle on the back for an adjustable fit. Plus it is The North Face brand so stylish goes without saying. To purchase, click here. Funky Junque BeanieTail Beanie This winter hat looks like a classic-style beanie but actually has a unique ponytail hole. Wear this beanie tighter around the head for a high ponytail or bun, or slouchy for a lower ponytail. The BeanieTail is warm and made of 100% acrylic with a durable and stretchy elastic band to adjust to any size or style of hair. This beanie is Machine wash on a cold, delicate cycle and hang to dry. To purchase, click here. Home Prefer Aviator Style Beanie The Home Preger Aviator beanie is made of 100% acrylic yarn with double-knitted layers to keep your kids warm and comfortable. This beanie is stretchy and durable and provides great coverage from the extended ear flaps. To purchase, click here. With winter officially approaching, make sure you send your littles out into the freezing depths of ice and snow with a warm hat upon their heads (oh, and coats, gloves, and boots).

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Fundraising for Twins – Ideas to Help Them Succeed

Amanda Hadley — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

I love to support and I enjoy helping others. However, when you are a parent of multiples (I actually have twins and a singleton) selling 60 candy bars (actually 90, because you know — THREE kids), 40 raffle tickets for T-ball (actually 80, TWINS), and a $20 donation ($60 for us) to go toward the gift basket that will be raffled off with the tickets you just sold, it can sometimes be a bit too much! How do you handle fundraising for twins (or more)? When it was only my singleton, I would only commit to whatever I could cover in the unfortunate event that we couldn’t sell all the items. This is not an option with three kids. I would need a second job, and possibly insulin, to cover the MINIMUMS in school, sports, and extracurricular fundraising. Fundraising for twins kids es no bueno! It’s different from the days of kids walking door to door selling Tootsie Roll banks or coupon books. The grandparents, aunties, and uncles are usually willing to pitch in a few bucks, but I fear this resource may run dry due to the amount of monetary support and frequency my children are asking for. I used my social media lifeline this time, but I can’t do this to my “friends’’ every four months when my kids start a new sport. I’ve had to get creative and think outside my comfort bubble. Here are some ideas I’ve actually used, have supported others with, or just think are genius! Effective but Standard fundraising for twins Road-Side Stand Fundraising Think small-scale stand: lemonade, not produce. Cuteness sells, and little kids, especially twin little kids are cute. It’s amazing how many people want to support when it is little kids doing the selling. This is a great idea when you need to sell a specific item: chocolate bars, cookies, popcorn. This also works best with merchandise the buyer takes with them immediately. Last year our elementary school’s spring fundraiser was Krispy Kreme Doughnut BOGO coupons. I bought one and then used my two dozen doughnuts to sell the remaining coupons. My three kids set up their donut stand, and when someone stopped and purchased a BOGO coupon, they got a donut for the road. Remember, it is always best to accompany your children and keep a watchful eye, but stay back and let them do the work! Farmers’ Markets/Parades/Gatherings Areas with a lot of foot traffic work really well for fundraising. Think of this as the new door-to-door sales from our childhood, but instead of going door-to-door, they go from booth-to-booth. If there is an occasional farmers’ market, parade or really any social gathering in your community, you can take advantage of this and peddle your candy bars, popcorn, or whatever your current fundraiser might be. Social Media Fundraising for Your Twins This is the place for pledges, sign-ups, and raffle tickets! This is the fastest way to reach hundreds of friends and family. Although an effective and quick method to fundraise, the more you rely solely on this method, the fewer results you will get. I would reserve this method for an annual fundraising event you know you will need a lot of help with. This is my baseball/softball raffle ticket method of choice. The raffle tickets are usually only $1 each, and I will post this with an adorable picture of my kids in their uniforms holding their mitts. You can post your Venmo QR code for payments and just let social media handle the hard work. If my initial post is successful, I’ll say “thank you for your support” with another post. Sometimes it takes multiple posts, but don’t overdo it. I will usually do a second post a few days before the fundraiser ends for a final push. Unusual and Creative Fundraising for Twins DIY Raffle Create your own raffle and sell tickets. When my daughter was in competition dance, a fellow dance mom used to do this every fall to pay for her daughter’s comp fees. It was genius! She would reach out to local breweries, wineries, and distilleries to get donations, plus family members would pitch in a bottle here and there. Once she had a good collection, she would put it in a basket, take a picture and upload it to her Facebook page. Raffle tickets were $5 each or 5 for $20. I don’t know how much she actually made off of this raffle, but I do know her she covered her daughter’s dance fees The key to a successful raffle is finding something worth bidding on. So ask yourself, is this something a lot of people like and would be willing to bid on? 50-50 Raffle A 50-50 raffle is a great option for funding participation fees. Sometimes we twin moms need some assistance when trying to cover the $600.00 sports fee ($300 when you have one child participating). Most sports don’t offer a BOGO when it comes to twins (or more). A 50-50 raffle simply involves the sale of raffle tickets with the proceeds being split evenly between the winner and your organization. It is one of the simplest and easiest fundraisers you can do. All you need is one or more ticket sellers. Raffle tickets normally sell for $1 each. Using a price incentive ( 3 for $2 or 5 for $4) for multiple tickets can increase your total sales and build a larger ‘pot’. People are always happy with a chance to win a cash prize. It’s usually easy to get people to spend a little bit of money, just a buck or a few bucks when they have a chance to win quite a bit more. The best part, you don’t have to prepare an item for auction! Opt-out Fundraiser Another great idea when fundraising for twins is his fundraiser an Opt-out fundraiser. This kind of fundraiser was made for every busy mom. This is your chance to just write the check and be left… Continue Reading Fundraising for Twins – Ideas to Help Them Succeed

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My Child is “Aging Out” of Early Intervention. Now What?

Twiniversity — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:05:00 +0000

If you know what Early Intervention is, you know children “age out” at the age of 3. But what if your child still needs extra help? What happens then? When my son didn’t hit his 50-word milestone by 2 years old, I had no idea what to do. Luckily we had a really good team helping us navigate this stressful journey. However, some children are not as fortunate. According to the US Department of Education, 409,315 children between birth and 2 years old received Early Intervention (EI) services in 2018-2019. In other words, nearly half a million children were screened and still needed extra help doing basic activities such as crawling, walking, talking, and eating. My twins’ pediatrician screened them at their 2 year wellness check. It was recommended that both be evaluated for Early Intervention services. Afterward, a representative and a specialist came to our home to evaluate each child. We found out there was a delay in my son’s speech. And so began our Early Intervention adventure. For a complete list of milestones you should be checking, click here, or speak to your pediatrician. If you suspect your child needs to be evaluated for services and your pediatrician doesn’t agree, you can contact Early Intervention Services on your own. Above all, trust yourself. Remember, you know your children best. What is Early Intervention? Early intervention targets babies and toddlers who show a delay in cognitive, social, or communication skills. In other words, it focuses on helping eligible children learn basic skills developed in the first 3 years of life. These include: physical (reaching, rolling, crawling, and walking); cognitive (thinking, learning, solving problems); communication (talking, listening, understanding); social/emotional (playing, feeling secure and happy); and self-help (eating, dressing) First and foremost, early intervention is a family-focused, at-home support system. Depending on which skills are delayed, a specialist will come to your home to work with you and your child. Early Intervention supports parent involvement, preparing them to engage with and help their child between appointments. If your child is eligible, a team from the state’s early intervention program works with you and your child to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). This will help set goals and identify the types of services needed. My Child is Turning 3, Now What? In order to create a smooth transition for young children, you must start planning and preparation before they turn 3. A transition meeting will be scheduled about 90 days before this date. During this meeting, you will start the process to determine if your child needs additional learning services. There are 5 basic steps for determining if an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is needed: Referral Evaluation Determining Eligibility Developing your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Implementation of Services and Annual Review Referral Medical professionals, therapists, and specialists usually give these referrals. If your child participated in Early Intervention, their specialist will refer them. Afterward, your child will receive a referral to get an evaluation with the school district. Evaluation The district is required to evaluate your child in all areas of suspected disability. At this point, you should address any other concerns you may have. If the school district isn’t aware of the concern, they won’t screen for it. My son made progress through Early Intervention with his speech, but he was still considered delayed. His IEP evaluation focused on speech. He was shown pictures and asked to say specific words, phrases, and letter sounds. I had no other concerns, so we didn’t evaluate for any other disability or delay. However, if you have new concerns, this is the time to bring them up! Determining Eligibility If your child needs services, you will work with an early childhood special education staff member and the school district to formulate an IEP. Your child will be eligible for preschool special education services if evaluations show he or she has a developmental delay or disability that impacts the ability to learn. Developing your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) This step requires that you and the IEP Team make decisions about what education services and placement are best for your child. These may include an Early Childhood Special Education center or another Pre-K arrangement. The IEP contains a personal educational curriculum, services needed for success, and measurable annual goals. In my son’s case, his delay in language required the services of a speech-language provider. After that, we decided in his IEP meeting that it would be best for him to attend an early three’s preschool class. There, a speech therapist would come in and work with him for 30 minutes during his 2 hour class. We were able to place him in a class with a mix of students. Some with similar IEPs, some with different IEPs, and some without any IEPs who just wanted an early start to preschool. In fact, I was able to enroll his twin sister in the same class, even though Early Intervention and an IEP were unnecessary for her. Similarly, multiple early intervention professionals told me it is awesome to have children without delays interacting with IEP kids. This is because they learn a lot from the modeling of their peers. Implementation of Services and Annual Review Once your child is 3 years old, they will begin implementing their IEP. You should receive progress reports every few months. However, you might be contacted more frequently if progress is different than expected. Also, you’ll need an annual IEP meeting to review how things are going. In this meeting you will discuss how your child is progressing and make any necessary changes to their IEP. Will my child automatically move from Early Intervention (EI) to an IEP? Of course, not every child who qualifies for Early Intervention will qualify for Early Preschool Education and an IEP. To qualify for an IEP: The child has a qualifying disability. The disability adversely impacts education. The evaluation indicates a need for specially designed instruction. The difference between EI and an IEP is… Continue Reading My Child is “Aging Out” of Early Intervention. Now What?

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Beach Chair for Kids Roundup: Fun in the Sun Without Sandy Bums

Amanda Hadley — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 17:35:00 +0000

Looking for a great beach chair for kids? We’ve got you covered! Our twin mom staff writer breaks it down with this awesome “beach chair for kids” roundup. Check it out below. I love the beach. Sand in my toes, a good book, a cold drink, the smell of salt in the air… there just aren’t many places I’d rather be. Sadly, my years of motherhood have shown me that the beach isn’t quite as relaxing with small kiddos (I see you, toddler twin moms, nodding in solidarity). Even so, it’s hard to underestimate the importance of a good beach chair. Adult beach chairs seem to be available just about everywhere you go, but where in the world can you find a good beach chair for kids? As much as I love the ocean, I’m completely wiped out after a couple hours of being knocked over by waves. My kids usually are, too. Many times, I’ve been left to sit on a sand-covered blanket while a kid happily snoozes in my beloved beach chair. This is why my family has made it a priority to find the perfect beach chair for our kids. The list I compiled covers it all: portability, storage, sun protection, comfort, and even a few extra bells and whistles here and there. So sit back, relax, set the mood by cranking up the ocean sounds on the kids’ white noise machine, and get ready to become an expert on beach chairs for kids! What Should You Look For in a Beach Chair for Kids? There’s really no “gold standard” for a kids’ beach chair. All families are different and have varying needs. Perhaps the beach house or hotel that you’re staying at is a bit of a walk from the shore, so you’re looking for a beach chair that kids can easily strap onto their backs and carry themselves. Maybe you’re looking for a chair with pockets and spaces for kids to keep drinks, snacks, books, phones, sunglasses, AirPods, or any other “necessities” close by. You could be looking for an outdoor chair with a detachable umbrella or canopy to keep the sun from scorching your kids’ delicate skin. Or, you might just want something that is comfy enough for an exhausted kiddo to get some rest before hitting the waves again. Personally, I want a beach chair for kids that has all of the above! I came up with a list of ten beach chairs for kids that I think are pretty rad. I tried to cover a variety of budgets, styles, and age groups with these selections. (By the way, there’s even a double beach chair that’s perfect for your twinnies!) The Cutest Beach Chair for Kids As a mom of 4-year-olds, my opinion is that Melissa & Doug knock it out of the park just about every time. Their items are adorable, colorful, and durable, and their portable kids’ chairs are no exception! My personal favorites are the Octopus and Butterfly, but you really can’t go wrong with any of their designs. These chairs are recommended for kids up to 4 years old. They are lightweight – just over 3 pounds – and come with a cup holder and matching storage bag. The current list price for these is $30.69, but check Amazon for sales – they have been priced as low as $15.99! The Shadiest (in a good way!) Beach Chair for Kids I’m always encouraging my kids some get sun – but not TOO MUCH sun. Sunburns are no fun! These outdoor chairs from Kelsyus help protect your kids from harmful rays with a large canopy that is positioned over the chair. The coolest feature of this chair is the canopy’s ability to transform into a backpack, making it nice and portable. The chair supports smaller children (up to 75 pounds) and is lightweight. It is currently priced at $59.94, so it is one of the pricier options for kids’ beach chairs. Kelsyus also has adult-sized canopy chairs that would probably work for older kids, but they are quite a bit heavier than the kids’ version. Beach Chairs for the Youngest Kids If you’ve ever brought a young toddler to the beach, you understand the importance of keeping them contained. While we all want our little ones to enjoy themselves, there are times when they just need to chill out and take a break. I really wish I would have had one of these Baby Delight Go With Me Venture Chairs back when mine were smaller. This chair has all kinds of cool features. It has a 5-point harness buckle for babies, as well as leg holes for toddlers who prefer to stand. This chair is suitable for kids up to 75 pounds. It comes with a canopy, snack tray, and carry bag. It currently retails for $69.99, but I’m thinking this one could get a lot of use at summer picnics and other gatherings, too! The Most Relaxing Kids’ Chair In my opinion, there is NOTHING like a good beach nap, no matter how old you are! The Rio Beach Kids 5-Position Chair lays flat so your little snoozer can make the most out of those epic naps. (I’m yawning just thinking about it!) This chair also converts into a backpack and weighs a little over 6 pounds. The weight limit is 100 pounds, and there are five reclining positions. Features include a pillow, storage pouch that can double as a drink holder, and a towel bar so your kids don’t end up eating too much sand for lunch. This chair is currently selling for $71.08. The Beach Chair for Sand Lovers Do your kids spend most of their beach time playing archaeologist or building sand castles? If so, you might want to find a chair that sits nice and low to the ground. The Rio Brands Wave 1-Position Beach Folding Sand Chair is very simple, but it gets the job done. Park it right in the sand and let your kids go to town. Although the chair does not have any straps or carrying cases, it is still lightweight and it folds almost completely flat. This chair is actually suitable for adults… Continue Reading Beach Chair for Kids Roundup: Fun in the Sun Without Sandy Bums

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5 Simple Responsibilities for Children

Amanda Hadley — Tue, 17 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

There is a bigger picture to teaching responsibilities for children than simply giving them chores. My own daughter is completely perplexed by having to make her bed on a daily basis. She is 9 years old now and I have been engaged in this war with her for three years. It started as a chore she enjoyed but quickly became a whiny “Why?” To which I would reply, “because I said so.” But with age and maturity, comes truth. I recently explained to her that my job as a mom is to raise self-sufficient humans that are non-drains on society. Requesting her to make her bed is less about the bed and more about teaching her life skills. A person with a sense of personal responsibility is more likely to succeed in school, the workplace, and society at large. Our children are capable humans. They can handle responsibilities. And I believe it is never too early to teach responsibilities to children. The COVID-19 pandemic supplied me with plenty of time at home with my young children, and an opportunity to involve them in the day-to-day chores of running a household. My twins were 3 years old in 2020, and this is when I started to build their foundation for responsibility. There were (and still are) plenty of frowns and whiny mumbles when I declared it is chore day, but I know I am teaching them skills for success later in life (plus, I am saving my own sanity by expecting a little more from them and a little less from myself!). See the list of chores below that I use with my own kids: 5 Responsibilities for Children That Build Good Life Skills 1. Caring for the Family Pet If you have a pet, this is a no-brainer. We take turns asking each child to fill up the dog’s food dish daily. This is definitely one chore where we do not get much push-back from the kids. Does this mean the kids adore the dog more than they adore me? Probably, but the dog is adorable! This can be a messy task. It started out half in the bowl and half on the floor, but part of this responsibility for children is to clean up after as well. Practice makes perfect, and currently it is about 95% in the bowl and 5% on the floor. The children are also asked multiple times a day to let the dog outside and then let him in when he is ready. Again, they are pretty amicable to this request, however, they are VERY good at remembering who’s turn it is and who did it most recently. 2. Putting Their Clothes Away I get a lot of shocked looks when I talk about my 5-year-old twins (they started doing this just before 3 years old) being responsible for putting their folded laundry away in their dressers. Most of the time I do the folding, but when I am done, I will hand them one pile at a time to put away. Are the clothes still neatly folded and organized in the drawer when they are done? No. Will they be 16 years old and still have sloppy folded pants half sticking out of their dresser drawers? Yes, but not because they will not know better, this will just be due to the teenage way of life. This is my first step in eventually teaching my children to do laundry (again, a life skill). Right now they are responsible for putting their clean clothes in their dresser. As they get older, the lesson of neat drawers will be taught, as well as how to hang up clothes. All leading up to actually doing laundry: separate, wash, dry, fold, and put away. 3. Wipe Down Door Handles and Light Switches Children = germs. Besides teaching my children proper handwashing, I am also enlisting their help in keeping germs off some of the most touched places in our house: door handles and light switches. Twice a week, I will give each twin a disinfecting wipe (or two) and assign them to either door handles or light switches. They are responsible for wiping down and disinfecting ALL the door handles and light switches on all three floors of our home. Little hands are great for these smaller household items. 4. Put away Clean Silverware At 2 years old, all of my kids were putting away the clean silverware. This was their very first chore. I was given this idea by a co-worker, and I was very skeptical that my 2-year-old would have the patience to do this. I was wrong. All three of my kids have been successful and enjoyed this chore. Sometimes, the little spoons end up with big spoons, and we’ve lost a ladle and wooden spoon along the way, but I knew to expect some casualties. This was the perfect starting chore for my kids. 5. Clearing the Table We are a two-career family of five. My husband and I work opposite shifts, so family dinners only happen once a week. Recently, during these family dinners, the children became responsible for clearing the table. The chosen child for the week is responsible for clearing the table of all dishes, silverware, and cups. If food remains, they are also responsible for scrapping the leftovers into the trash. The kids are fine with this arrangement. For all other meals during the week, we are all responsible for clearing our own dishes. So, it’s not much more responsibility than they are used to. This chore is an important one to me. I want my kids to know what it takes to care for (and clean up) after a family. I hope to give them a little insight into what it is like being a mom. Although I am sure this lesson is lost on the twins right now, hopefully, one day they will see the similarities. This is of course a work in progress. When the twins… Continue Reading 5 Simple Responsibilities for Children

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