How Does Birth Order Affect Your Child

Are you an only child? Or perhaps you are the oldest of five? Your birth order or when you were born in relation to your siblings can say a lot about your character. While not all first born children are going to follow the rules, below are some common trends that can be found in first born babies, middle children, only children and the baby of the family.

The First Born

The first born is your pride and joy for a long time. Until a sibling comes along, your first born gets all the attention, all the care as well as all the mistakes made along the way. First born children may accept the rules more freely and may enjoy taking on the role as the leader. They adapt well to school but tend to be self-critical. First born children tend to be organized and responsible and can also take on the role as a nurturer. However, first born children are also more likely to have feelings of jealousy and resentment as well as guilt.

The Middle Child

We’ve all heard of ‘middle child syndrome’ but what does this mean? Experts suggest that when you are on the second baby, you are a lot calmer as a parent and this will rub off on the baby. Middle children are calmer and easier going. They are able to adapt to different surroundings better and tend to be more flexible. They have good social skills and have a realistic view on life. However, a middle child may display odd behaviours as a child, may be quite imaginative and may be easily swayed by others around them.

The Last Born

The baby of the family will be charming and outgoing. You can also expect them to be spoiled and enjoy taking the centre stage. They may harbour a tendency to be manipulative in order to get their way (it’s a competitive world out there when you are the last born) and may be more disorganized and less goal orientated than her older siblings. The baby of the family may be a risk taker and a little on the rebellious side and she may face feelings of self-doubt and inferiority. However, the last born is also innovative, creative and willing to take a risk and go her own way.

The Only Child

Only children often have a tendency towards perfection (perhaps because they never have a little brother knocking down their toys every time they turn around). They have a low tolerance for disorder but a high level of self-confidence. They are independent, self-aware and excellent with communication and organization. Only children often prefer to spend time with adults or older children rather than children their own age and may feel uneasy when socialising with other children.

Of course, not every child is going to follow the book. How does yours compare?