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Expert Q&A

	By Paul Coleman Psychologist Family Therapist

My twin girls are starting kindergarten in August, and I've been told that they will be in separate classes. I would like them to be together. What is best, and should I insist on them being in the same class?

Most schools rather stringently enforce the idea that twins should be separated. The concern seems to be that twins may not easily develop their own unique identities (as they might if they had different classroom experiences and different friends).

However, a journal entitled Psychology in the Schools contained an article in the July 2003 issue that stated that the effect of such policies on twins' development and educational attainment are currently unknown. In other words, the positive effects of keeping twins separated seem to be more of a "common sense" idea more than an idea that has clear basis in research. In a 2003 study that evaluated 32 pairs of twins at puberty, findings revealed that twins compared to singletons had more difficulty developing independence and a positive self-image. It is unclear whether keeping twins separated or together in classrooms would improve the situation.

As a result, if you wish to insist that your children be allowed to remain in the same classroom you might ask the school administrators to cite the research for refusing your request. Keep in mind that any research findings, no matter what the conclusions, base the findings on average group data. So even if it were found in a study that keeping twins apart in school had benefits, it does not mean that all twins would benefit. It only means that they benefit on average.

Further, some findings may cite differences that are statistically significant but not necessarily meaningful. For example, if a fictitious research study found that twins in condition A had slightly better grades than twins in condition B, the difference in grades may not be all that meaningful if the grades were just a few points apart.

I believe it is a good idea to allow your twins to have opportunities for non-shared interests and activities. Beyond that, I'm not sure there is hard data either way to make a clear finding on the value of twins in separate classrooms.

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