Dramatically different language ability in Twins

[Doublebuggy]

Hi, hoping those of you with older twins can think back to when yours were around 2.

I have two boys who are 2.1. Their language skills are very different.

DT1 has a huge vocabulary - must be over 500. He mimics and gets new words immediately and puts simple sentances together. Knows all his colours (inc pink, purple, and can now do dark blue and light blue etc).

DT2 has a much more limited vocabularly.

When I read to them DT1 always shouts out the names of the objects on the page and this does not give DT2 a chance to even think about it. DT1 is much more interested in books - he will often bring something for me to read and so obvioulsy I spend more time with him and books. And I am beginning to feel very guilty.

BTW - DT2 much more physically able. He will climb and explore everything while DT1 calls after him "DT2 be careful" .

So ..... I know that all kids catch up and by age 6 they can all talk. But I am worried that there is a large intellectual difference between the two. And I am not sure how I wil cope with this.

Any experiences?

I only met my (DZ twin) DSDs when they were 4 but there has always been a difference between them.

Easier said than done I know, but try not to worry about it - kids will pick up on whether they're 'the clever one' or whatever. They are two separate people, enjoy it!

Any chance you can spend time with them separately, if someone else takes the other one for an hour or so? This'll be more important as they get older.

As you already know, it's quite usual for twins to have differing abilities in different areas, just as it is usual for siblings to be different - it's just harder not to compare when you have two children exactly the same age!!

DD1 was an early talker, but a very late mover (didn't crawl till 11 months and was nearly 18mths before she walked). By contrast, her best friend, who is 2 weeks younger (and who she's known since birth), crawled at 6.5 months and walked at 11, but was much slower to talk.

When my DTs were born, DD1 was 20 mths and could talk in full sentences and knew all her colours etc. When my DTs were 20 mths, they could just about say mummy and daddy - but they were on the move at 7 mths and walked much earlier. (Didn't help that DD1 used to talk for them much of the time .)

We always thought that DD1 would turn out to be more intelligent than our DTs, largely due to the differences in speech ability. However since the DTs started school, it's become very clear that they are at the very least on a par with her and that the differences in the early years are largely insignificant.

As mathsmadmummy suggests, why not try and spend some time with each one on their own - but even then, you don't have to necessarily focus on improving DT2's language skills, just do whatever he enjoys. Simply giving him some one-on-one attention will help his speech as DT1 won't be speaking for him. Perhaps you have one academic and one sportsman .

I've seen with one set of twins very different language abilities that were thought to be caused by 1 twin being a much better talker than the other. Twin 2 didn't see the need to talk as much and probably didn't have the space to anyway. Does DT1 say stuff for DT2? Like what he wants or doesn't want to eat/drink/ play.

I second the suggestion of one/one attention which will help DT2 talk more away from DT1 (who sounds like a right chatterbox!) but I wouldn't worry at the moment. As you clearly know children develop at different rates and your DT2 IS speaking. It doesn't mean he's not intellectual - some of the stupidest people I know talk lots and say nothing. A single insightful remark goes a long way.