3 Posts are tagged with: multiples

Tips for Parents of Multiples: Homework and Learning Obstacles

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Mar 17, 2009 by Eisla Sebastian

Being the parent of multiples means that your parenting responsibilities are multiplied by the number of kids you have. When your multiples are babies you have two, three or four times the diapers, bottles and clothing changes as you would if you had only one baby, and as your multiples grow, your responsibilities only increase. One of the issues that you are bound to have to deal with is homework. Homework issues can range from just getting your multiples to do it to helping your multiples overcome learning disabilities.

Getting Homework Done
One problem that most parents have to deal with is getting their kids to complete their homework. Most kids are going to procrastinate and wait until the last minute to start their homework and complete assigned projects. While you can get by with this strategy, it puts a lot of stress on your kids and reduces the amount of knowledge that they are able to retain.

You can help your multiples be better students and more relaxed by setting up a homework schedule. It is best to get homework done as soon as your multiples get home from school. It is also better if they distribute large projects and studying over several study or work sessions. This makes larger projects more manageable and studying more effective for long term retention.

Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities come in several varieties. Some learning disabilities are mild and only require a few modifications to study habits, while other learning disabilities are severe and require lifestyle and environmental changes. If one or all of your multiples are having ongoing problems with their academic progress, it is a good idea to talk to your pediatrician or to your kids' school about screening them for learning disabilities. Once the problem has been identified, a strategy can be developed to help your kids to regain control of their learning.

The most common learning disabilities are going to include cognitive delays and dyslexia. Both of these conditions can be overcome by supplementing classroom education with one-on-one tutoring and assistance, as well as by learning new ways to approach homework. Your school can be a great source of information on how to help your multiples overcome their learning disabilities, as can child development centers.

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Tips for Parents of Mulitples: Making Reading a Family Value

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Feb 10, 2009 by Eisla Sebastian


Today reading is the most important academic skill that your multiples can develop. Reading is required to do nearly everything in life from finding employment to finding your way through traffic. While reading skills are taught in school, you can enhance your multiples' ability to read by making reading a family value.


Family Reading Activities
Family reading activities are a great way to get your multiples excited about reading, as well as to reinforce the notion that your family values reading. Both of these things will help your multiples to develop a passion for the written language. Family reading activities include things like reading stories together and playing games that require reading. As your multiples learn how to read, you can take turns reading and listening.


Word/Picture Pairing
If you want to jump start your multiples' reading education, consider posting word cards under objects in your home. This is a common exercise for people trying to learn a second language, however, it works just as well when learning your first. You may want to start with basic items that your multiples use everyday like the refrigerator, doors, walls, chairs, booster seats, pictures, bookshelves and potty chairs. You can also focus your labeling activities on specific types of items such as clothing, rooms, animals, people and food.


Real World Reading Experiences
Another great activity that requires no preparation work is to simply read the signs that are already posted in the real world. You can take your multiples for a walk and read the signs that you come across such as "Stop," "Don't Walk," "Walk" and various street names. As your multiples learn to read, you can start to read more complex signs, such as those posted at historical points, landmarks and even in elevators.


Family Spelling Bees
Since spelling is a part of reading, it is important that you work spelling into your reading activities. For example, you can hold family spelling bees using your multiples' vocabulary words from school or you can make up your own list based on the words that you have been working on together. These spelling bees will help develop both spelling and reading skills as you take turns giving words to spell and spelling words.

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Tips for Parents of Multiples: Doing Things as a Family

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Jan 27, 2009 by Eisla Sebastian

Today many families rely on electronics to keep them entertained. While electronic gadgets from video games to computers are fine forms of entertainment, it is sometimes good to do something together as a family that doesn't involve popping in a video or game disc. One of the best ways to improve your connection as a family is to learn to do something together as a family. This is especially true when you have multiples as everyone can participate in the learning experience.

Woodworking Projects
Woodworking projects are great for families with multiples. Woodworking projects are great because there are many different levels of skills that are involved in completing a project. This means that simpler tasks, like sanding and gluing can be done by younger kids, while the more complicated tasks can be handled by the parents. What is great about woodworking projects, like building an activity table, is that you have to work together as a family to complete the project and when you are done you have something special to show for your efforts.

Learning a New Language as a Family
Learning a new language as a family is another fun activity that works well for families with multiples. You can learn a new language by taping language cards to various items in your home so you all can learn new vocabulary words, you can go to local cultural events and you can also go to ethnic restaurants where you can practice ordering food in your new language. You can also watch your kids' favorite movie in the language that you are learning. To do this you will need to go to the settings in the movie disc and change the language setting.

Learn Traditional Skills
While modern conveniences like sewing machines and electric tools make completing many tasks a lot easier, it is sometimes good to show your kids how things were done before these inventions were created. For example, you can all learn to sew clothing by hand or to saw pieces of wood by hand for a special project. This not only provides your multiples with new skills, but it helps them appreciate the modern conveniences that are in their world.

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