Guest Author - Kris Bigalk

Twins often have developmental lags, because of prematurity, low birth weight, and just because they are twins. Here are some activities to stimulate your toddler twins' development of fine and gross motor skills, and also encourage them to play together.

Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body. Walking, running, jumping, pushing, pulling--these are all gross motor skills. Fine motor skills involve smaller movements, like coloring, clapping, pointing, and using utensils.

Play "Roller-Catch"
Sit on the floor with your toddler twins, and teach them to roll the ball back and forth between them. This works best if they sit with their legs in a V, to help catch the ball. They can even sit this way toe to toe, to make sure the ball doesn't "escape" as it's rolled. If this game is problematic (one twin won't give up the ball, for example), try joining the game and rolling it in a "three-way" game of catch. Once your twins are older, try going outside and throwing the ball back and forth. This activity encourages hand-eye coordination and motor skills.

Play "Catch a Hug"
In this game, stand a few feet away from your twins, open up your arms and say "Give me a hug!". When one of the twins runs into your arm for the hug, give them a big hug and kiss. Then move away again and ask for another hug. The point is to make the children walk/run to you, and then get a reward. Keep moving further and further back to encourage more movement. Soon you'll have both of them rushing toward you for a big group hug!

Invest in Outdoor Toys
Many "traditional" outdoor summer toys are great for stimulating toddler motor development. A sandbox, for instance, encourages fine-motor building activities such as dumping and filling and stacking. It also provides sensory stimulation, which toddlers crave. A baby swimming pool or water garden does the same, and stimulates gross motor development because of the resistance from the water. An age-appropriate swing-set or climber also provides a lot of gross motor stimulation, as do small ride-on or rocking toys. These toys don't have to be expensive, especially if you get them second-hand. A great online, yet local resource for used children's equipment is Craig's List. Just click on the city closest to you and start looking over the ads. We've found a free swingset and other great deals on our local Craig's List.

The bottom line is that if your toddler is moving around and trying new activities, his/her development will be stimulated. A variety of activities that stimulate a variety of muscles and facilitate coordination can move your toddlers along the developmental track.