Category: School Aged Multiples

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Buying toys is always a dilemma, so much so we have written a whole blog on it, which you can read below.

Buying toys for twins and triplets

This blog isn’t about if you should buy same same, or same but different. This blog is purely to give you some inspiration on toys that can be shared by twins and triplets.

Toys that can be shared by twins and triplets

Personally I think “share” toys are fabulous for multiples, as they encourage the family to play together.

Magnetic Tiles

These were a HUGE hit when my twins were younger. They lead to so much creative unstructured play. Sometimes they would be a apartment block for the TY soft toys, other times a garage for the hot wheel cars.

Being translucent they look like a big stained glass window – so very pleasing on the eye.

And lets not forget the added bonus of the fact they quite easy to pick up!!!

Shop for magnetic tiles here.

Osmo – Coding Starter Kit

This is still going strong in my house, and our twins are 11 years old now. i figure, if they are going to be on the i-pad then they may as well be doing something education (that is fun!).

Children interact with actual hand held pieces and an iPad, bringing a child’s game pieces and actions to life. My children used to work on the problems together.

Shop Osmo here.

Vuly trampolines

I find with my kids that they are either both on the trampoline, or none at all. After talking to other parents of multiples, its the same at their house as well. The common consensus was to therefore get the largest trampoline you can afford (that fits in your garden of course!).

I love our trampoline. We often go out into the garden while dinner is cooking to have one final burst of energy over and done with. They love it if I squirt them with the hose. We do “high jump” and they have to jump over the stream of water etc.

I bought some soft pool balls that they bounce around in there (I didn’t want hard balls, as I could see a rolled or broken ankle happening as a result). But these ones are made totally of soft foam.

We even used our trampoline to learn letters and do sight words on.

Shop Vuly trampolines here.

Uniden Walkie Talkies are perfect and practical toys that can be shared by twins and triplets

We initially bought these for our big adventure trip to Cape York. And they have been a hit at every camping trip since. We are lucky enough to live opposite a very large park, so often the kids will go over there and play hide and seek with the walkie talkies.

They come in 2, 3 or 4 packs. Some of which are even colour coded, if thats your thing!

Shop walkie talkies here

Floor Puzzles

Floor puzzles are great for the whole family. They are perfect for developing gross motor skills, but you will find that your children will crawl around the floor to get to the various pieces, so they will develop muscle tone as well.

I also like them because they promote conversation and they naturally help each other out.

Plus, I get to sit on the floor and relax for a few minutes!!!

Shop floor puzzles here.

Vuly Swing Sets

Where were these when I was younger? I simply cant get enough of these. A nearby neighbour of ours has one (coincidentally she has twins as well!), and I am jealous every time I drive by to take our twins to school!

You choose what swings work best for your growing family, and with over 10 different accessories, the fun never ends.

Shop swing sets here

Play-Doh works well for toys that can be shared by twins and triplets

Play-Doh is so good for hand strength. Plus its cheap and easy to make.

Again, this is such an open ended toy. Add in a few of these cool accessories, and your kids will be preparing themselves for school without them even realising!!! Hand strength is the key to handwriting.

I just apologise in advance for how many Play-Doh meals you will be handed and expected to eat.

Shop Play-Doh sets here

Twinfo is Australia’s largest, most supportive, online community for parents of twins and triplets. Twinfo offers advice, products and services that make raising your babies easier, freeing you up to enjoy all the precious moments.

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Author: Lovehoney Ambassador Chantelle Otten

Everyone’s libido (sex drive) is different and will have peaks and declines over time, this is completely normal and if you are experiencing either you are not alone.

Many things like lifestyles, sleep, stress, anxiety diet and physical wellbeing can all play a part in our sex drives. Pregnancy and motherhood affect most of the things just mentioned. Some women experience a higher sex drive whilst some women experience a lower sex drive after giving birth. The important thing to remember is to not compare yourself to others. Libido is based on what turns you on and how your body responds. 

If you’re looking for ways to boost or improve your libido after having twins or triplets, continue reading;

Author: Tarryn Dee from My Diffability Australia

Did you know that being left-handed can be the result of genetics as well as your surrounding environment? Males are more likely than females to be left-handed and even more interestingly, in about 20% of identical twins one is right-handed and the other is left-handed. 

I am an occupational therapist with over 10 years of experience in helping children to develop their fine motor skills and pre-writing skills. I am here to share some strategies and activities to help with developing hand dominance, and in particular to make things a little easier for the little lefties in our lives. Whether a child is left-handed or right-handed, it is still important for them to develop the use of a tripod pencil grasp.  This grasp is where the index finger and thumb pinch together and rest on the middle finger. 

Author: Isiah McKimmie

Taking care of your relationship can be challenging with little people around, more so with multiples! You’re tired, stressed, touched out, and have so little time for anything else anymore.

So how can you keep your relationship strong and, even, manage to keep a spark alive?  

I’m not going to tell you that it’s easy, but here are some tips to help awaken your intimacy after twins, triplets or more.

By Lovehoney Sex Coach Cam Fraser

Libido/sex drives are not a consistent straight line throughout our lives, it has ups and downs. Many things and factors influence our libido including hormones, life stage, and emotional and physical states. 

Becoming a parent to multiples is a massive life event and is full of ups and downs and learning all on its own. I love being a parent, and it’s so rewarding, but don’t get me wrong it comes with its challenges. 

The is stress, anxiety and worry can be multiplied with multiples. Add to this, the stress and anxiety over the last couple of years as a result of the pandemic and you have a heightened state of stress which isn’t conducive to sexual activity. Stress and libido do not mix. Lovehoney’s lockdown survey indicated that two thirds of Aussies said heightened stress impacted their sex lives. 

Author: Deb Hopper – Life Skills 4 Kids

Left-handed twins and triplets

It’s no secret that left-handed people are in the minority, with approximately 75% of the population being right-handed (one study estimates that truly left-handed people make up around 10% of the population. Men are more likely to be lefthanded than women, and twins and triplets are more likely to be left-handed than the rest of the population.

Lefties have some advantages …

Being left-handed in a right-handed world comes with some challenges, especially when it comes to the tools and gadgets we use to make everyday life easier.

But left-handed people also have some innate advantages over the rest of the population. Some sports, such as tennis, cricket and boxing, favour left-handed sportsmen as their opponents struggle to adjust to a different playing technique. Many of the world’s top sporting stars are left-handed.

Lefties are also better at problem-solving, a skill that comes in useful in a world that is built for the right-handed. Every day, left-handed people are faced with challenges that call for them to do things differently because they are often required to use tools and equipment designed for the right-handed.

Parents of left-handed twins will recognize the uniqueness a lefty brings to the family, but right-handed parents may also be struggling with teaching their child everyday skills such as tying shoelaces or using scissors.

Check out my tips below for helping your left-handed twins and triplets to learn essential skills.

Having multiples means you are already juggling and multi tasking at a pro level.  But looking after multiples when sick yourself adds a whole other level of difficulty.

Read our blog on 5 ways of minimising the spread of germs between multiples HERE.

Please note:  This article is written from a practical parenting point of view of looking after multiples when sick yourself.  Not from a medical point of view. Please contact your local GP or government organisation for medical advice.

Have a conversation and make a plan

Firstly, it is really important you have this conversation with your partner / friends / family BEFORE you get sick. 

You need a back up plan for how you will cope if one of you gets sick, if both of you get sick, if your children get sick, if all of you get sick.  Single parents, it is important you have several plans in place as well, in case your backup caregivers also get sick.