7 Ways Your Preschooler Can Help With Your Twins

Last updated on September 28th, 2021 at 01:58 pm

Having one child is hard but two – forget about it. Thankfully, I had my oldest and the twins 5 years apart. I don’t have to worry about my oldest as much. Not only can she do many things by herself but she has been a big help ever since her sisters were born. She helps me with little tasks which takes a some stress off my shoulders and helps me get through the day without losing my head. Her help isn’t simply just beneficial for me though. It helps her feel included especially with the extra attention afforded to her new sisters and it helps her bond with them as well. There are times where, if it wasn’t for her, I would have seriously had a meltdown.

Want to know how your preschooler can help with their new twin siblings? Here are a few things they can do to help out just a little.

1. Bring you baby items

I am already a forgetful person but it’s gotten worse with three children. When it’s time for a diaper change, I will sometimes forget to grab diapers or wipes so I’ll ask my oldest to grab them for me. Even worse, I will be just about finished bathing one of the twins and forget that I left the towel in the room. Not wanting to leave her alone in the sink, I will ask my daughter to run in the room and grab it for me. For your preschooler, this is perfect for helping refine important skills that they will need for grade school. It teaches them that there is a place for everything which helps them with organization.

2. Pick up toys

My daughter loves to play with small toys called ShopKins. They are quite cute but way too small for the twins (who are only 6 months) to play with and poses a choking hazard. When she does play with these kinds of toys or any other toys that could be hazardous, I ask her to not only put them away as soon as she is done but to also make sure not to play with them around her sisters. Doing this simple task of cleaning up toys is good for mom as well. It’s one less chore and less likely that you will trip or step on toys which can also be harmful especially if you are carrying one of the babies.

3. Spoon feed

The twins just recently turned 6 months old so I have started experimenting with feeding them different types of baby foods. Right now, their favorites are sweet potatoes and bananas. I haven’t had an opportunity to allow my oldest to do this but your preschooler can help out with feeding time. Since they are new to this, just show them how it is done and then while watching them, let them help with a feeding by feeding one while she feeds the other. This is also a great opportunity to let her try putting on their bibs by herself as well. Whether it is buttons or velcro, it refines their motor skills.

4. Help with bath time

Aside from bathing the baby themselves (since they are still too little), there are plenty of ways that your preschooler can help during twin bath time. They can help by picking out each twin’s outfit for the day, help with fastening the straps on the diaper, and they can also help brush their hair. During bath time, they can help by giving baby a toy or playing with them while you bathe them. They can also help dress them by pulling up the zipper on Sleep n Plays or by fastening the buttons on onesies, or even putting on the socks.

5. Laundry

Even at this age, there are some chores that preschoolers are capable of doing. It teaches them independence and responsibility. Helping with laundry by folding the twins clothes is a good start and it lets them help. They can match up socks and tuck them into the correct drawer, button up onesies and zip outfits while you fold, and they can also help by putting the clothes away in drawers as well.

6. Join in on playtime

My oldest loves to join in on playtime. She loves to play peek-a-boo with the twins while they lay on the floor, sing songs, dance, and laugh with them. It keeps the twins preoccupied while I am doing a chore or preparing bottles and it makes them laugh (which is always cute to hear). Spending quality time with her twin siblings will also allow her to be able to pick up on each baby’s personality so that she can have an easier time telling them apart. I try to help my oldest by pointing out differences in their appearance so she can tell which one is which better (one is chunkier than the other, one has more hair).

7. “Read” stories at bedtime

Every night at bedtime, I read my oldest a story and usually it consists of the same Peppa Pig or My Little Pony stories that I have read a thousand times each. Sometimes, one baby is still in the process of trying to sleep by playing or fussing so I’ll pick her up and place her in my lap while I read both of them a story. My oldest doesn’t quite know how to read yet but for the most part, she remembers the story and she can pick up on the content based on the pictures. It keeps her sister preoccupied, helping her go to sleep and she gets to try learning how to read.

This is only a small part of the many ways that your preschooler can help with twins. This is also just my experience since my twins are less than 1 year old. If your twins are older than that, maybe you have found fun and helpful ideas for your preschooler to try when lending a hand with their twin siblings.

Ashley Mite is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom to her 3 children – Elizabeth and her identical twins Natalie and Isabel. She is married to her husband, Chris, who is a pilot of the US Army. When she isn’t writing or cuddling with her girls, she is listening to her favorite music or watching her favorite shows. You can find her on www.ashleymite.com, on Facebook and Twitter.