Wow, time really flies! Your precious, identical bundles of joy are already old enough for pre-school. While you’ve had 3-4 years to notice all the little nuances that make each twin special, the teachers, bus drivers, other students and even nannies and babysitters haven’t. And, for identical twins, that could be a problem–or at least an awkward situation. To avoid having your children feel “weird” or everyone else “uncomfortable”, here are some sure-fire ways to help the rest of the world determine who’s who.
Color Coding
This works well for babies and can be continued into the school-age years. Beginning at birth, develop a color-coding system for your multiples, such as pink for Lisa and purple for LeeAnn. Consistently selecting baby clothes and accessories in the assigned color is an easy way to help distinguish the children, and it helps keeps their belongings straight, as well. You’ll always know who left the toy in the floor or who’s pacifier it is.
Physical Characteristics
Most people think that identical is just that–identical. But, even the most identical twins have some distinguishing characteristic. Once you discover it, clue everyone else in on the mole, birthmark, eyebrow arch or other physical attribute that sets them apart. Identify features that are unique to the child and not comparison, like height or weight, because they will not likely be together all the time to distinguish the difference. Once you know that, you can play the name game (see below).
Name Association
It’s a proven fact, people remember things better when rhymes and alliterations are involved. Use it to your advantage and associate each child’s name with an attribute that distinguishes him or her. For example, Megan has More Hair and Lauren has Less Hair.
If all else fails, tell them to guess! At least they’ve got a 50/50 chance of being right!
