The media appear to think that the increase in multiples is due to wealthy middle class families paying for IVF treatment. It's not uncommon for parents of twins or triplets to be asked by complete strangers how they conceived. But public embarrassment is the least of their concerns.
The rise in multiple pregnancies over the past decade is mainly due to the increasing birth rate, older mothers delaying pregnancy, changing body shapes, and only in part to fertility treatments. A report being compiled by Professor Steve McKay, from Birmingham University, looks at a range of Government datasets that show multiple birth families are poorer than every other type of comparable family. Furthermore, they are more likely to be divorced or separated and have less confidence in their parenting skills. Around 50 per cent of twins are born prematurely and therefore may to be physically, educationally and emotionally immature. Most commonly, multiples may encounter speech and language delays.
Early years professionals can play a key role in helping these families. Only 33 per cent of parents have a chance to give their children regular periods away from their sibling prior to starting school, so professionals can help by gradually separating them, either in different groups or across separate activities. They can also help to build their individuality by calling them by their first names (definitely not 'the twins', 'tweenies' or 'double trouble'), and treating them as individuals, for example with different pegs or colour aprons.
Finally, the family are likely to be exhausted, so provide a listening ear and reassurance when things don't go well and emphasise the positive.
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