Birthdays and twins… a quick tip
ByWe have been to many birthday parties of playmates in the last two years. For multiples, I give one gift to each child. They are individuals and like to have their own item. Often I get something similar so there is less fighting. For example, I gave some of our boy/girl twin friends strollers for their birthday. Though they were both pink/purple, I knew from experience that ONE stroller would be fought over. Both kids have enjoyed loading them up, racing, and pushing them around on walks.
For singleton kids, I make it a point to give a gift from each child. It can be something that goes together, like coloring books from one and crayons from another. Or something totally different like when Zane gave an truck and Bree gave clothes. Why do this? Because my kids will also have a birthday… and if they weren’t twins, kids would be getting them each a present. In addition, often it reminds parents of singletons to get two gifts (one for each) instead of one to share (since sharing is not big in the toddler mind).
2 Comments
April 19th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Totally agree. I have an older daughter, then twins and my son is only 11 mos younger then my twins, so those three have all the same friends. They get invited to all the same birthday parties and I always bring three presents. In a few weeks I’m throwing them a combined bday party and really hoping that the guests too in turn bring a present for each of them.
April 21st, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Thanks for the post on the birthday gifts. My twins are 5, and I wouldn’t think of giving other twins just one gift. No wayyyyyy. My kids can’t stand one gift for both of them and I don’t blame them.
On the other hand, we sometimes give a “supergift” to a singleton, but only if it’s for financial reasons — sometimes we want to give one big gift instead of two small ones and that big gift is bigger, better, cooler (read: double the budget of one gift).
Thanks again for the post!
@garzag