“Studies show that only children are no different from other kids. Specifically, they're not more spoiled, lonely, selfish, or overly dependent. This is because a child's personality benefits from their parents' undivided attention and emotional support leading to high self-esteem and maturity.
An only child is just as happy as everyone else. In fact, as kids, they are probably happier. But throughout life, they have just as many close friends. They even enjoy more career success.
His recent study of 13,500 kids found that any difference in social competence between only children and those with siblings disappears by adolescence: By grade 7, only children were just as popular as their peers with siblings. The study's authors concluded “there is little risk to growing up without siblings."
Since they don't have siblings to interact with, only children are believed to be lonely and poorly socialized. They are also believed to be incapable of compromising or working well with others, since they haven't had to share their toys, space, identity, and parents' attention with others.
The only child syndrome theory suggests that a child without siblings may be more likely to lack social skills and be spoiled, lonely, or selfish.
Because of that long connection, she adds, siblings matter a lot for our personal growth and well-being. “Throughout the lifespan, people who have close sibling relationships have better mental health, better psychological health, and better social relationships, generally speaking.”
Encourage interaction with others
To keep from feeling lonely, some only children develop imaginary friends or ties to inanimate objects, such as dolls or stuffed animals. It doesn't matter how much attention you lavish upon an only child; sometimes, they just need someone their own age to relate to.
Talk to your child
Keep it light – show an interest in their friends or peers, and ask how they feel about them. Let them know it's OK to be alone sometimes. We all feel lonely from time to time: it doesn't make them a failure. Acknowledge their feelings if your child says they're lonely.
Want to be a happier parent? Grow your family to at least four children! According to a study out of Australia's Edith Cowan University, parents with the most life satisfaction (which means those who are the happiest) are those that have four or more children. Dr.
Research has showed that, while having one child is associated with a gain in happiness, having a second is associated with a drop in happiness for mothers.
An only child is more content and confident than those with siblings, reports The Observer. Happiness in children declines once there are more siblings in the home, an Understanding Society research study has found.
Dr Newman says the often-greater access only children have to parent/s, resources and one-on-one conversation "can expand vocabulary growing up and give the child an educational edge". "Being an only child [also] enhances creativity and feeds independence and the ability to entertain him/herself.
While studies are inconclusive as to whether only children are more or less advantaged than others, those without siblings can have the benefit of being the centre of attention during their childhood, which might help with developing self-esteem, self-reliability and resilience.
Having two children reduces mortality risk. Three different studies looked at thousands of older adults and found the same thing: two kids was the sweet spot for health. The risk of an early death increases by 18% for parents of an only child. Also, the risk is higher for parents of three or more kids.
The average percentage of only children in families across the world is approximately 20%, but this varies greatly by region, culture, and economic factors.
Never having been forced to share with siblings, some only children may be possessive of what they believe belongs to them, both literal possessions or simply not including you in decisions that affect their wellbeing. “Only children tend to look at what's theirs, as being theirs,” explains Winter.
Some only children wished for a sibling, some didn't. Some people with siblings felt bullied by their siblings, not close to them, or in constant competition with them. Others felt that their siblings were the greatest gifts their parents ever gave them.
The child's 'isolated' state manifests itself in defective social interaction and communication between mother and child, in disorders of perceptual function and motor skills, in stereotyped behaviour and in general developmental retardation, especially in language.
By 4 years old, firstborns are a bit more mature — which means they may be less likely to feel threatened, jealous or insecure with the arrival of a sibling. And since physical aggression is most pronounced between the ages of 2 and 4, your older sib is apt to be gentler with the baby, too. You're at ease.