Birth Order and Personalities
Did you know that your child’s birth order can influence their personality? As a parent, recognizing these unique differences can benefit the relationships your child has in their life with you and their siblings.
An article written by Scientific America, Does Birth Order Affect Personality, shares that the psychology of siblings ‘birth order’ results in their personalities being quite unique. The article suggests that the individual attention first-born children receive early in life may be beneficial to their cognitive abilities throughout life. Often first-born children are leaders in their homes and have a slight IQ advantage over their siblings. Characteristically first-born children are known to be mature, goal-oriented, independent, competive and confident. As a result, they are commonly working in influential careers as adults.
As families grow, the first-born child takes on roles related to parenting. They often become as little helpers around the house.
As families have more children, individually sharing learning experiences with each child becomes more of a challenge. To be sure that first-borns feel valued schedule individual time with them each week. Share your appreciation for all that they do to help with younger siblings. Time spent with each child will eliminate ‘competitiveness” in the family as it continues to grow.
As a parent, new to the job, parents to first-borns document all the ‘firsts’ with unlimited picture taking and they often create the rules as situations arise. But by the second child, parents tend to be more ‘easygoing’ with their parenting responsibilities. As a result, middle children tend to be more creative, social, and fun! They are great negotiators in many families. Middle children have never experienced being an ‘only child’ but as the youngest child they get quite a bit of attention.
It is often a major adjustment for a second-born child when a third sibling is born. As a result, they may feel left out of the family dynamics and gravitate towards their relationships with their friends. Giving second-born children a role in the family will help them build relationships with their siblings and make them feel important. Spend time with all your children individually and give them opportunities to feel special.
By the final child, as expected, parents are experienced and their parenting style is much more relaxed. As a result, the youngest and third-born child, often has a ‘free-spirited’ and ‘funny’ personality. The ‘baby of the family’ is often spoiled by parents, as this is their final child. Encourage your third-born to be independent and give them confidence to reach their goals. Remember, to recognize their accomplishments and document all their ‘firsts’!
Over the years as your family grows, the birth order will change. As a parent, it is important to be adaptable and teach your children to use their unique personality traits as a ‘gift’. This ‘gift’ can be used to encourage their siblings, make new friends and positively influence those around them. While reading together; have older siblings read out loud, encourage middle children to follow along with their finger and snuggle younger siblings close as they listen. Remember, it is the time that you spend together as a family that will impact your kids the most because they will know that they are loved, the greatest ‘gift’ of all.
REFERENCES
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Meet Amanda
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Welcome to my "teach it" and "beach it" blog! I create engaging resources for teachers and families to guide their children through the 'sea' of education. I specialize in marine biology topics and gifted education! I'm glad you are here!
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Amanda Merrill
SCIENTIST. TEACHER. MOM.
