Oct 21 2008
Fancy dress is fun, and although not every family has time or talent to make costumes which will be worn once only, some Pooh characters can be very simply made. Christopher Robin, for example, needs little more than shorts, a shirt and sandals, plus a soft hat. Or when guests arrive you could give them all ears and a tail to show which of the Pooh book characters they are. Continue Reading »
Oct 07 2008
A birthday table makes a charming and practical focus on this special day. Family tradition prefers to use the same piece of furniture every birthday: a coffee table, chest or sideboard would be suitable.
A festive ‘birthday cloth’ covers the table which bears cards, presents, flowers and maybe the birthday cake. In some countries the cake appears at breakfast time, in which case the birthday child (or adult) waits outside the room while the family gathers around the table. When the cake candles are alight, a little bell is rung to give the signal for the door to be opened and the birthday song to begin. Continue Reading »
Aug 31 2008
The Cotonou Seminar pointed out that ‘among the reasons most often heard from street children, that of the family was the most common to explain their departure from home‘. The immediate causes given by the Philippines on why there are street children all have to do with the family. Vanistendael also said the same: ‘the immediate cause is nearly always a dysfunctioning in the family‘. ‘The reasons why children take to the streets are complex and manifold. Broadly speaking, a distinction can be drawn between the push and pull factors. Continue Reading »
Jul 25 2008
In the course of everyday life, the interfaith parent and child run into all types of circumstances that are peculiar to their lifestyle. It is difficult to predict the future for any family, but we can generalize about some common situations that interfaith families face. Along with the observations that we have already discussed, there are other specific tips that parents of different religions may wish to discuss with each other.
Jun 26 2008
Some schools have a policy of placing twins in separate classes, others feel that whatever the relationship between twins, they should always be together. Most leave it up to the parents.
This may be the most important decision that parents make. Often otherwise trouble-free twins may have problems at school caused by unequal ability, unequal division by the twins of educational tasks, language difficulties and unequal teaching, to name but a few.
Sometimes there is no choice, particularly at first schools where there may only be a single form entry. Continue Reading »
Jun 24 2008
One of our twins is much less clever than the other but it wasn’t until they started school that it really showed. The teachers have kept them together in the same group so that the brighter twin can help the other one, but it is holding her back and not really helping her sister to stand on her own feet.
Separate classes and possibly separate schools may be the best answer. One may move ahead of the other and they will probably quite happily accept the situation if they can make their own friends at their own level. It will make it easier for you to praise them both when they do well, without any comparison with their twin. Continue Reading »
Jun 17 2008
Twins tend to retain a childlike quality for rather longer than single youngsters. Perhaps this is because they have shared their childhood with someone else and it is less easy to leave it behind, but it may also be due to the slight immaturity of language which can serve to retain the shared Secret Garden of infancy. Twins can often be refreshingly direct and have little use for humbug.
As we have seen, the twin’s relationship with his mother is linked in babyhood to his co-twin. Separation from mother is never complete, his twin is his umbilical cord. There may also be feelings of jealousy which make him unable to leave her to his rival.
These feelings can still be around in adolescence. Continue Reading »
Jun 15 2008
One of my twins eats well but the other one looks like his shadow. He says he doesn’t want to get fat like his twin brother, but I’m worried that he isn’t eating enough.
It sounds as though eating well may be important in your family and most of us expect our sons to have healthy appetites.
If they are non-identical twins and only one is going through a rapid growth stage, one may grow taller and thinner than the other if they both eat the same. However, if they are both at the same stage of development they may be using their weight as a way of establishing their individual identities, particularly if they are identical twins. Continue Reading »
