Helping Your Twins Build Friendships with Other Children

Helping Your Twins Build Friendships with Other Children

From Dad's Guide to Twins by Joe Rawlinson, twin pregnancy and raising twins expert

February 11, 2026 · 12 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of helping twins build friendships with other children to develop their individual identities and social skills.

When my twin girls were toddlers, I’d take them to the park and watch something fascinating happen. Other kids would be running around, forming little groups, negotiating who got the swing next. Meanwhile, my girls would find a quiet corner of the sandbox and build elaborate castles together, completely content in their world of two. It was sweet. It was also a little concerning. Here’s the thing about twins: they come with a built-in best friend. That’s amazing, but it can also become a comfortable bubble that keeps them from developing friendships with other kids. I learned this the hard way when one of my daughters had a meltdown at a birthday party because her sister was playing with someone else. Why Outside Friendships Matter (Even When Twins Have Each Other) My wife and I used to joke that our girls were set for life. They’d always have a playmate, always have someone who understood them, always have backup. And while that’s true, we realized they also needed to learn how to be interesting, capable people on their own. When twins build friendships outside their twin relationship, they will develop stronger individual identities and more…

Topics covered

  • friendships
  • twins
  • social skills
  • child development

Keywords

  • twin relationships
  • playdates
  • social development

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