The truth about older siblings

Eighty-five percent of adults have at least one sibling, yet an estimated 3% to 10% have completely severed contact with a brother or sister.

The eldest children who are expected to care for younger siblings may feel overburdened and resentful that later ends with a permanent split

Children born too many years apart, may never share common interests or developmental stages. For them, slender ties are sometimes easy to cut.

(Source – Time)

 

Studies show that when you pair people up in 5- to 15-minute conversations, as if it were a speed date, the males who grew up with sisters tend to do better than the ones who grew up with brothers or as only children. Similarly, the females with brothers tend to do better with boys.

If you have a combative sibling or a physically intimidating, older sibling, you learn a lot about how to deal with situations like that later in life.

Oldest children do get an IQ and linguistic advantage

Middle children really do get the worst in terms of parental attention – That’s why they tend to invest in greater ways in friendships outside the home and be much less connected to the family.

After about 6 years, your step siblings can become as close as biological siblings. Until then, its all about competition

Property is the biggest conflict among siblings – because property for a small child is a critical way of establishing authority and control over a world in which they have virtually no power.

But don’t worry if you have no siblings, you get exposure to the adult world before those with siblings.

Source – “ The Sibling Effect,” by science writer Jeffrey Kluger

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