MEDIA RELEASE
Full hands and full hearts, as twins and triplets begin school
10 January 2022
For immediate release
With approximately 4,500 multiple births in Australia each year, there will be just over 9,000 twins, triplets or more, heading off to school for the very first time in 2022.
Larissa Jordan, Chair of the Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA) says that although starting school is an exciting time for any child, having two or more children start school at once can be challenging for families with multiples.
“Aside from the multiple sets of uniforms and supplies, there are a number of other considerations that parents must take into account and discuss with the school, before their children commence,” said Mrs Jordan.
Classroom placement - whether to split them or keep them together - is one of the biggest dilemmas faced by parents of multiples.
“There is no one size fits all answer to classroom placement. The research indicates that parents are best placed to determine what will suit the individual needs of their children,” Mrs Jordan said.
AMBA advocates for multiples to be treated as individuals, while also fostering the unique bond that twins, triplets or more have with each other.
“School readiness is another factor that many families have to consider, with 65% of twins and 98% of higher order multiples born prematurely (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019) and a higher percentage experiencing developmental delays.
“In 2022, our goal will be to Educate the Educators during our annual Multiple Birth Awareness week - putting a spotlight on supporting families with twins, triplets or more in the school setting,” Mrs Jordan said.
The Australian Multiple Birth Association offers a number of resources to support families with multiples when transitioning to school. For more information, head to www.amba.org.au
Media Contact:
For further information or to organise an interview or photo opportunity, please contact:
Larissa Jordan (AMBA Chairperson)
larissa@amba.org.au
About AMBA
The Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA) is a not-for-profit organisation enabling positive health outcomes, awareness and equality for multiple birth families.
