Should I be worried?

I am worried about my 7 year old niece, who is also a twin.  Since she has been 2 or 3 she would punish herself by hidding under the table or putting herself in the corner when she has done something wrong, before anyone could say something to her.  Her twin seems to excell in just about everything she does and is in a multi-grade class while the one I am worried about is in a regular 1st grade class.  She doesn't read well and everytime we sit down to read together or work on something for school, she coughs, she says it is a tickle in ther throat or she'll play with her glasses.  She often avoids the task we are working on.  Tonight she was overheard in her bedroom saying she is stupid and had her fists clentched hitting the bed.  Suggestions??

[margypops]

Sounds as if she feels like the left out Twin, very often one is cleverer or more gregarious and the qiueter one feel over shadowed by her Twin, do they get the same attention, children are sometimes hard on them selves and get frustrated hence the acting out and the hitting the Bed,  many children call themselves stupid, has anyone else said this to her, how is the other Twin with her would she call her names?  does she have friends and play sports.You say one Twin ,the other one excells in everything, your answer lies in that statement she feels she cannot compete.It would be a good idea to praise her and build her self Esteem up, what is she good at ,.

[jdtm]

Are the twins in separate classes at school?  Both girls need their own friends and their own activities and their own lives.  Since you are the aunt, have you tried having each twin to your home separately?  Each is a separate entity; not one-half of a pair.