Separate twins in 4's Preschool Program?

Hi all,

Forgive me for posting a topic which I'm sure has been asked and answered dozens of times in the past. I am going through the registration process at my children's preschool and their policy is to separate twins in 4's Program, unless requested otherwise. I'm told by their teachers my twins (B/G) are fairly independent of one another. They play in different areas of the class and make separate friends, yet I know they take comfort knowing the other is in the room (they are twins after all!) I don't anticipate any problems if they were to be separated, but I also think it's a wonderful chance for them to learn/grow together as preschoolers. Sometimes these things are harder on us than our children, no?

I welcome any comments on your experience with your children in a 4's program...separated or not. How did they do? Do you think having them together/apart was beneficial?

Also, We will be moving to the Charleston, So. Carolina area when they start Kindergarten so I was wondering if anyone from that area could inform me whether separation is mandatory in public school Kindergarten there?

Thanks in advance.

 

My 4 yr old twins are in separate classes and they love it, no problems at all. This was my choice, the school they are attending said it was up to me and I'm glad I did it this way They still see each other here and there and have a lot to talk about with each other on the way home, I feel they need alittle time apart because they do everything else together and do fight a lot at home. The time apart seems to help with that plus one isnt as outgoing as the other, I think this is helping her come out of her shell. There are 2 other sets of twins and 1 set of triplets at this school and they are all in separate classes also and they to seem to do be doing very well. Good luck I'm sure your kids will love preschool either way!!!

 

My two were together for both years of preschool & are still together this year for K (by my request). They have done wonderfully well being together for all three years of school together so far. They have their own friends & only play together occasionally, but do have that comfort of knowing the other is in the room with them. I thought that was especially important this year, with starting a new school & being there all day. I have no idea what we will do for future years. I will decide each year depending on teacher recommendations (right now they all say that L&L are fine together) and what L&L would like to do. For me, dealing with 1 teacher, 1 set of notices, field trips together instead of me going twice, 1 set of homework, 1 parent/teacher conference, etc. makes my life easier (especially when I already have 3 other kids, each with their own teachers, homework, etc). But, if they would like to be separated or their teachers start to notice problems which would indicate separating them would be better, then I would be open to that idea as well.

 

This year, in 4th grade is actually the first time that my boys have any time together in class. They have 20 min. of word study together a couple of times a week. Mine have always been apart, and in preschool were even in different schools due to different needs. They actually do better when they have time apart. I notice that when they have extra time off from school they are more likely to start bugging each other.

 

This is our set-up. Mine have been together for preschool because that was the only option (one am session on pm session). Now in 1st we had moved and the going from preschool ( 1/2 days) to 1st (all day) in combination with moving we kept them together.

So far all the teachers (preschool and 1st) have been fine with it and the only time the teacher has mentioned splitting them is library/technical education and that is because they fight over books! LOL.

If anything changes in the future, we will split them.

That said-- right now they are at the same groups ( mixed up groupings across three classrooms) for reading, writing, and math.The only difference is word work and center time (different rotating groupings). So regardless of what class they were in, they would have been together for large portions of it anyway due to ability grouping and being about the same levels.

 

My girls are in separate pre-k classes right now, and they are doing great. My girls have very different personalities and I was worried about one overshadowing the other. It's good they are making their own friends and I love how excited they are to share their day with each other when we get home!

I think it really depends on their dynamic to determine what is the best situation for your kids. Gl with your decision.

 

My girls separated in K for the first time. I had to keep them together in Pre-K since there was only one AM and one PM class at their school. They do so much better apart. They do have gym together once a week.

 

The way it works here is that they go into reception the September after their 4th birthday, so Alyssa and Bryony were just under 4 1/2 and Naomi and Luke were just over. Both sets were separated from the start and they all did really well with it. I don't remember A & B having any trouble at all really. Naomi was a little lost at first but I think a large part of that was the shock of finding that not all other children would do just as she told them, as Luke mostly did. :lol: Luckily she made very good friends with another little girl (they are still best friends now) in the first couple of weeks.

I think it was a good thing for all of them to have their own classes. Like others have said it helped a lot with reducing the bickering/winding each other up at home. It's nice for them to have time apart and be able to share stories of their day with each other. They can also be fairly competitive with each other and I think it helps not to have the constant comparison. They do get to see each other for break and lunch time.

 

I'm planning on separating them for pre-k as well, if it's possible. For sure in Kindergarten though.

 

Mine are separated now in Primary (they were together in preschool since there was only one class, but they were kept in different groups). If they are independent anyway, why not split them up? Mine are in completely different rooms, with different kids and they see each other but not all the time. Just because they don't "bother" each other for me is not a reason not to split them up. It will still be different from being completely separated and if you think your children can handle that, I would definitely go for it. Personally, I don't get the same bed, same clothes, same first initial, same room, same class, same activities, etc. at all. They are 2 different individuals with different needs and different wants, they were just born on the same day. Yes, they'll have a special bond, but they'll have a special bond with their older sibling too. A special bond does not depend on doing everything "together". So whether I would have had 2 boys, 2 girls, or a boy and a girl as I have right now, wouldn't have made any difference. And yes, they have 3 sets of home work (but they are reading different level of home readers anyway), 3 parent teacher consultations, different school trips, birthday parties, etc. but I feel it's in their best interest, and I'll have to make it work to the best of my ability.

 

My twins were separated for about 8 months in preschool when one was potty trained and the other was not. Otherwise, they were always in the same class, mainly because it was a small preschool with only one class for their age anyways. They did fine separated or together.

Mine are now in kindi, and I opted to separate them. The schools recommended separation, but did not mandate it. It was our choice. Honestly, I stressed over the decision A LOT but they did fine. I think they get along better now that they aren't stuck together all the time too.

 

My girls are in their first year of preschool, ages 4 and 5 in their classroom. We opted to put them in the same class. My girls have never been to daycare, so I thought going to school was such a different experience that being together was helpful. I enjoy having them in the same class, and they play with different kids and the teacher says they are fine. I suppose in that case they could be in separate classes, but this way we don't have to deal with the jealousy factor if one class did something the other class did, I get to be in the class double amount of time, rather than maybe only half the time, and it gives me a good idea how they will do in K if I separate them or not.

I know nothing about SC, can you just call the school district and ask? Good luck with your move!

 

definitely depends on the kids needs. I never really thought that mine would be dependant/demading on each other, this year at 3 was their first yr in a preschool... well they are in the larger room so more kids/3 teachers and that's working out for us. about a month in, the teacher told me a funny story... my dd had gone to the bathroom and started yelling "Daaaviiiisss.... come here, flush the toilet." then she yelled for him to come start the water for her to wash her hands! oh boy!! anyway, from that time on, the teachers have separated them into the different group/circle times and different tables at lunch etc. they seem to be doing well. I'll be interested if they suggest full separate classrooms next year. I agree, I'll probably do what they suggest, if it seem reasonable.