Does anyone have twins who are wildly different academically?

[sandyballs]

I have non identical 6 year old girls who are in Year 1. DT2 is very studious, loves reading and writing, has a great thirst for knowledge and we have just been told that academically she is equivalent to an end of year 2 child. Not sure how they "assess" this though .

DT1 has very little interest in reading or writing or anything involving sitting still. Much more physical, very sporty and still struggling with reception level school books.

Now this has never bothered me before really, they're both happy, they both like school, they're just different. But this weekend DT2 has been gloating about how well she is doing and how much extra homework she has been given, and how she could read DT1's book last year etc etc. I've obviously talked to her and explained how unkind and unnecessary this type of behaviour is. DT1 is upset by it and feels as though she is is slow or stupid, despite my attempts to make her feel better.

I'd be interested in other twin mums' experience.

if it helps, me and my twin sister were very similar academically but ended up excelling at different things! i guess as long as they are both happy and flourishing in their school and home lives, nothing to worry about !

DD is behind her brothers academically, but we just "big up" the areas where she excels. For instance, she is brilliant at drawing and singing, whilst the boys are better at their maths and english. Everyone has some talent - it can just lie in different places. x

I have exactly the same as you, my DTs are non identical 5 year old boys in P1. DT1 is very academic, whereas DT2 couldn't care less. Now DT2 can do the work, he's just not interested - in fact if it doesn't have wheels or is some sort of dinosaur then you?ve lost him. DT2 is very sporty though, and a huge fidget, something that drives his teacher (and us) to distraction. They are in separate classes as we didn?t want them lumped together as ?the twins? which I think has helped, but at the last Parents Evening they were still comparing their work.

DT1 has just started ?helping? DT2 with his words, but although there?s no malice in it yet, it?s not very helpful. DT2s writing is pretty bad in comparison too, as he has fine motor skill difficulties, and DT1 can?t resist making comments like ?well it?s a bit scribbly, but I still like it?.

Can?t really give any advice though, I?ve explained to DT1 that his comments aren?t helpful, but I just wish people would stop trying to put them into little boxes ? they?re individuals with different talents, not clones! Sorry, I appear to have gone into a bit of a rant there!

My friend has twins and they are so different academically that they are now in different years at school.