The birth order affects each child differently. If you only have one child, they will follow the tendencies of the only child. Since they will always be the center of your attention, they can sometimes be raised papered and spoiled. They may grow up to be slightly self-centered. One of the benefits of being an only child is that the child learns how to entertain themselves, as they have no siblings to interact with. They can be very self-reliant. Only children also seem to be very creative.
The birth order affects the oldest child in that they are able to be an only child for a while. They are usually perfectionists, as the first child is usually pushed more by the parents to be their best. They usually have a strong desire to please their parents and other adults. One way that birth order affects oldest children is giving them a strong sense of protecting those around them. This birth order affect might be because they are often in charge of watching younger siblings.
The second child is in an interesting place, because he or she never has the undivided attention of the parents. They often live life like it is a race, trying to be better than the other children in the family, in order to get the parents’ attention. If this second child becomes the middle child in a family of three, they often feel squeezed out. They are not pushed like the oldest, and they are not babied by like the youngest. In extreme cases of birth order affect, the middle child might feel like they have no place in the family unit. As a result, the middle child often becomes the problem child. They may act out, or they may become withdrawn. On the positive side, the middle child usually grows up to be very adaptable.
Finally, the baby of the family is also prone to birth order affects. They are often babied by their moms, as the mom wants to keep them the baby as long as possible. They may overcompensate for the fact that they feel inferior to their older siblings. Also, they may expect other people to do things for them, as this happens when they are children. Sometimes the baby and the oldest will gang up against the middle child, especially in groups of three.
Parents can help their children overcome the birth order affects by treating each child with equal love and attention. Encouraging each child to pursue his or her interests will help them develop into well-rounded adults. Also, parents need to take the time to spend one on one time with their children on a regular basis. Take mom and kid dates where the kid is alone with mom from time to time. This will help foster a sense of security in the mother/child relationship. It is important that parents do not assume that their children will follow birth order trends. By treating their children as individuals, they can help their children to grow into their full potential as adults, no matter where they fall in the birth order line.