Easing life with double demands

Twins and their parents are getting to know each other at a session designed to help parents deal with the double demands of raising youngsters.

A Sure Start session at Oliver Quibell Infants’ School, Newark, on Fridays has a twins’ group to provide support for parents and get sets of twins mixing with other.

A community involvement worker for Sure Start, Mrs Louise Mcaleese, said the session started in autumn after requests from parents. Initially it was on a trial basis.

Mrs Mcaleese said: “It was so successful, we decided to carry it on. We have about 15 sets of twins who come along when they can.

“It is part of the early years foundation stage to develop social skills and learning through play.”

Miss Jo Batchlor, of Great North Road, Fernwood, took her 15-month-old twins, Alfie and Charlie, to the session for the first time on Friday.

She said: “It is a great idea because it is definitely a learning curve with twins. Also, they do enough mixing with each other so it is nice for them to mix with other children.”

Mrs Cheryl Charles, of Lowfield Lane, Balderton, has been attending for about six weeks with her twins, Finlay and Jayden, 2.

“I have been to a couple of sessions for parents with single children but when you have twins it is different. Having twins brings different problems to having one child,” she said.

For more information call 01636 675960.

See today's Advertiser for the full story.