By Holly Engel-Smothers
After six months, your babies are becoming their own little selves. You can see each baby developing individual characteristics and sleeping habits, and finding that extra-special "lovey." Those of you with identical twins may be surprised to see these differences springing forth in your babies. The mind is such a mystery: how can two people who have the same environment and the same DNA have different preferences, cries, babbles? Parents of fraternal twins may be surprised by the similarities, even though their babies may look much different from each other or even be different sexes!
You may notice your babies wanting to repeat a playtime activity again and again: singing a song, carrying around the same truck, playing pat-a-cake. There is a method to this madness. Your twins' brains get stronger and smarter every time an action is repeated. So when you are asked for the umpteenth time to read the same story, do it. Your little one's brain is connecting kind of like a spider's web. Each time you repeat any activity, the web becomes stronger and, in this way, makes babies' minds grow.
You may want to begin buying your twins' favorite books. I would suggest getting just one copy of each book so there are more books to choose from and the twins can possibly find another favorite one. This is the beginning of a very oral time for babies: drooling, putting everything in their mouths, blowing raspberries. Being exposed to germs from library books is something your babies do not need.
If you have not established a bedtime ritual that includes reading, between the ages of 7-8 months is a prime time. Whatever the ritual you may have (bath, quiet walk, etc.), end the day with a few books. I have found that many parents are dismayed that their babies will not "sit still and listen" or "sit still and look at the picture." My answer is always, "That's great! Keep reading, though!" The babies are hearing the language. They will learn "proper book etiquette" soon enough. Right now, let them roll on the floor, chase the cat, or look out the window as you read.
A bedtime suggestion for babies this age is to put the babies in their baby beds. Sit on the floor between the beds. Hold the book low in your lap so the babies can look down at the book through the slats of their crib. Even if the twins don't watch each picture, or may be laying on their backs kicking, or rolling around their beds, keep reading about 3-4 short (one to two words per page) books. After you have read a story, ask, "Who wants this book?" Give the book to whichever twin shows the most excitement about the book. Soon, books will become part of the secure feeling at sleeping time. And when the twins wake up in the morning, what are they going to do? Look at the books from last night. They will even learn to trade books from bed to bed.
Then, you can wake up slowly to the babble of your twins "reading" and talking with happiness. After all, happiness is a warm book!
[NOTE FROM SUSAN HEIM: This article is one of many from parent educator and mom of twins (and a twingle), Holly Engel-Smothers, who will be sharing her wisdom and expertise on the subject of reading through this "Literacy for All" column, which will appear on a regular basis on TwinsTalk.]