Extracurricular Activities for Boy/Girl Twins

Last updated on July 12th, 2024 at 11:09 am

A MoM recently asked:

My boy/girl twins are 4.5 year old. We are looking into extra curricular activities. We tried taekwondo after they expressed interest. My daughter was not very interested in it and refused to participate. My son would then not go into the class without his sister. It was eye opening for me. I know they have a special bond but really saw it in action. Neither one wants to do an activity without the other. They are in the same preschool class and have been since age 3. They do well in class and per the teachers do not depend on one another. Should I keep letting them do stuff together or try to explain to them that they are individuals and encourage them to do separate things?

Here’s What Our Twiniversity Fans Had to Say:

My boy/girl twins are 3. My girl is in ballet but I’ve yet to find an activity for my son that he enjoys. We do separate outings with them, usually one will go to grandparents while the other goes out with us. I’ve always made sure that they know that are each their own person.

My twins are 4. We separated them into different preschool classrooms at the beginning of this school year. They’ve grown a lot more independent since then. We usually have them in some sort of activity every year. Soccer last summer was a bust. They were not into it at all. Right now they’re in gymnastics, but I don’t think this will keep their interest for long either. Once they’re able to stick with something long term, I plan on splitting them. I try very hard to raise them as individuals with their own likes/dislikes.

Whenever it’s time to sign up for an activity, I usually ask them what they’re interested in and they tell me. If only one wants to do it, that’s fine. If they both want to that is also fine.

My twins are 11 and have been in the same classes since pre-k. They are extremely close and do everything together. We don’t force it, it’s what they want. When they are ready, they will choose individual activities.

We really encourage our boys to express their own interests and activities so we ask them each individually without the other one around what they want to do.

When my older set of twins turned from 2 years old to three, the director at their daycare forced a separation, and put them in separate classes. This was only a month after their father passed away. One of them completely fell apart. He depended on his sibling for comfort and strength during such a very challenging time. The director refused to reunite them, and I have no doubts that it was nothing short of traumatic for him. It may not be the same situation, but their bonds can be very strong, and they support one other. If they want to be together, I would let them remain so.

My boy/girl twins just turned 16. My girl has always loved basketball and has played since she was 7. My son tried it once and hated it, but loves soccer. My daughter tried soccer once and hated it. Being in separate sports at separate times is nice now. We don’t have to try to get both of them to 2 different places. It gives the other twin a break and helps to concentrate on school. They really depended on each other during preschool and the early years of grade school but once they got comfortable they were fine. They kind of just do their own thing now.

My boys just turned 7 and have been in the same class since they started school. They absolutely will not do an activity alone. I don’t force it. They are still little and if it brings them comfort to have each other then why stress them out? They will learn to have independence when they are ready.

My twins had their Pre-K class together, but found them dependent and focused on each others accomplishments. This year I separated them, different teachers different classes. They have each bloomed academically and socially, especially my girl, who was shy and had a speech delay. They enjoy talking to each other about their day and activities. I’m so glad I made the change.

They are still very young. Let them do stuff together. They may not always want to so enjoy it for now.

They are still young. I would suggest something like a team sport they can do together and with other kids their age. I love soccer for that. It’s active and easy. It’s not until about age 6/7 that they start to have different interests and start to realize them. My 8 year old twins play soccer together. One twin does gymnastics and loves it, the other doesn’t. One likes drama club but the other doesn’t. Don’t rush it but they will settle into their own interests soon enough.

There is nothing wrong with maybe putting them in different classes. I saw mine really flourish once separated, but it totally depends on the kids.

My boy/girl twins are 9 and still do everything together including being in the same class! Until they want to part and go there own way, together they stay. I do not force the split.

Are You a New Twin Parent?

Check out Natalie Diaz’s book:
“What To Do When You’re Having Two
The Twin Survival Guide From Pregnancy Through the First Year”

In What to Do When You’re Having Two: The Twins Survival Guide from Pregnancy Through the First Year, national twins guru and founder of Twiniversity (and twin mom herself!) Natalie Diaz provides a no-holds-barred resource about life with twins, from pregnancy and birth all the way through your duo’s first year of life.

Accessible and informative, What to Do When You’re Having Two
is the must-have manual for all parents of twins.

Buy Now

Have you taken your expecting twins class yet? We offer a great class on demand so you can take it on your own schedule! There are so many video modules covering everything from your twins’ baby registry to your first week at home with twins! Sign up today to get started before your twins arrive.

Need some twin parent friends? Get the support you need with a Twiniversity Membership. Benefits include a monthly twin parent club meeting on Zoom, access to a private Facebook group just for twin parents, and a video library of twin parenting lessons. Visit Twiniversity.com/membership to join today!