by Christina Baglivi Tinglof
Even if it's impossible for you to offer each twin his or
her own bedroom, there are clever ways to give the illusion of privacy when two
share the same space. It just takes a bit of imagination and a little bit of
sweat. So roll up your sleeves and get to work!
- Plan it right. Pick up a few design magazines or books to get ideas.
- Get your multiples' input (within reason, of course) on what they'd like to see. Find out what's important to them, such as having separate shelf space or a quiet reading corner, and try to accommodate each child's individual wishes.
- Even in a small bedroom, try to visually divide the space using a bookcase, curtain, or even a freestanding partition, providing each child with a private space and the appearance of his or her own room, no matter how small.
- Don't forget separate storage containers, the more the better. For instance, instead of one dresser, try captain's beds where clothes drawers are under each mattress. A filing cabinet with separate drawers is a good idea, too. It gives each child a place to stash secret documents, and it also teaches them how to organize their busy lives!
- Encourage your twins to discuss and draft a list of roommate rules and post it for both to see. For instance, they should talk over such things as quiet time for studying, who will be responsible for dusting and vacuuming, and visiting guests. (If one invites a friend for a sleepover, for instance, will his cotwin be invited, too?) When things are clearly spelled out, it prevents arguments and bad feelings down the road.
- If you have triplets and only two bedrooms, you may want to consider turning one room into a dorm where all three can sleep and use the other room for studying and socializing where each child gets her own desk and seating area. Or try the switch-off approach--every six months one girl moves into her own room and the other two share the second. One mom of triplet girls and another younger, single-born daughter and only two bedrooms has everyone change rooms every year so that eventually all girls will be roommates at some point.
Excerpted from Parenting School-Age Twins and Multiples, by Christina Baglivi Tinglof. ©2007. Reprinted with permission from McGraw-Hill Professional. Visit Amazon, Barnes and Noble or McGraw-Hill Professional.
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