Should twins play separately?

Why Should twins play separately

We often perceive twins as built-in play mates. They always have someone to play with and to entertain them. We might even feel like they are lucky to have each other around all the time.

While this could seem like an ideal scenario, what we sometimes overlook is how twins might feel about having someone in their play space, all the time.

True, they don’t know any other reality, their twin was always there and they don’t really know any other way. Yet, this doesn’t mean they must accept this, love it, and even be ok with it.

When twins feel pressured to constantly play with each other and let their twin into their space and play, to always accept their presence, it can interfere with how they interepert their feelings. Having your own space is vital for any human being. We all need a corner of the world to call our own. We all want to interact with other people on our own terms, in our own pace. Making twins feel they must include their twin, must be ok with their presence and accept their wishes- can be very confusing because that’s not necessarily how they truly feel.

Providing twins with opportunities to be on their own, to play apart from one another, keep their play private or play with someone else without the obligatory feeling to include their twin- has a wonderful effect.

When each twin can have agency over their play and space, they can invite others into their world in the way that suits them, organically. They can joy the time spent with their twin, knowing they are choosing to engage in this interaction and can walk away if they wish.