twin day and valentines

[Anonymous]

We just got the traditional note saying that you can only bring valentines to school if you bring them for all your classmates. No problem.

But our school also has this idiotic tradition called "twin day" where you and a friend dress up exactly alike in the name of school spirit. Every year I hear of a few kids who are hysterical because no one would be their twin and they feel like sh__ the whole day. WTF?

[Anonymous]

We had twin day every year at the schools I attended as far back as I can remember. I enjoyed that activity day the most I suppose since I can still remember it.

Does your DC have a close friend or two in class?

[Anonymous]

My DC is fine, but he said there was a girl in the class who was on the verge of tears because she didn't have a twin (I think there may be an odd number of kids in the class).
I also have a friend whose kid has been saying for a number of years that she finds it dumb and doesn't want to do it but the mom is pretty sure that's because the kid has some SN and is often left out and is self-conscious about it.

[Anonymous]

Twin day sounds do biazarre and potentially hurtful to me. Promoting cliques, too, Imo. Really, what is the point of it? I have never heard of this before. Reminds me of the fear of being picked last for a team. I am surprised in this day and age that a school/s would nit be more sensitive to the social ramifications of a "twin day."

[Anonymous]

Excuse my typos (auto correct) above.

[Anonymous]

Twin day? Really. My twin daughters are still in preschool, so I've never heard of this (even as a kid) but I hate that it reinforces the idea that twins have to dress alike all the time.

[Anonymous]

PP....twin day is for friends dressing alike. It is not a day about "real twins."

[Anonymous]

There are so many twins in our school, incl mine, there wouldn't be much point.

valentines day cards for everyone in class at elementary school seems like kind of a waste of energy. For me that is. I usually end up ghostwriting cards. My boys won't get near anything pink or heart shaped this time of year.

One way to deal with so-called traditions in school is to morph it into a fundraiser for a charity

[Anonymous]

Any teacher who would announce twin day to a class with an odd number of students is just cruel. At the very least, the teacher should offer to "twin" with the left-out student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP....twin day is for friends dressing alike. It is not a day about "real twins."

Yeah I get that. But they dont call it dress alike day, they call it twin day, it's a minor thing but reinforces the twins act and dress alike thing.

[Anonymous]

The twin day thing sounds pretty dumb, especially in an odd numbered classroom. Can't the teacher count? How awful to be the one left out.

I still remember being the only child in my kg class not invited to a birthday party. It sucks to be left out.

[Anonymous]

A father of twins here. DW and I both think the idea of "twin day" is pretty stupid.

However, if your school does this and you want to encourage participation, let the kids know that especially when there are an odd number of children, "triplets" are acceptable for twin day. Having a few groups of three instead of two can help balance out the odds. But I don't like the idea because it tends to really highlight the children who are outsiders, loners, or introverted. They often have trouble making friends, or their friends are better friends with others and it only isolates them more. Traditions like this are the kind of things that push the outsiders over the edge and do something drastic. I would discourage the idea where possible unless the school and or teachers paired the kids up and made sure everyone was somehow in a group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Twin day sounds do biazarre and potentially hurtful to me. Promoting cliques, too, Imo. Really, what is the point of it? I have never heard of this before. Reminds me of the fear of being picked last for a team. I am surprised in this day and age that a school/s would nit be more sensitive to the social ramifications of a "twin day."

Must be promoted by a SAHM who has nothing better to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Twin day sounds do biazarre and potentially hurtful to me. Promoting cliques, too, Imo. Really, what is the point of it? I have never heard of this before. Reminds me of the fear of being picked last for a team. I am surprised in this day and age that a school/s would nit be more sensitive to the social ramifications of a "twin day."

Must be promoted by a SAHM who has nothing better to do.

Why go there? Maybe you have nothing better to do.

[Anonymous]

When my DD came home and told me about twin day, I was a little worried. But she told me that her teacher had told the class what she was wearing - jeans and a red shirt. So, anyone who didn't have a friend to dress like, could be "twins" with the teacher. I thought that was a perfect solution.