Favoritism is a word no parent would like to use, even if in most cases it is somewhat inevitable. ![]() As allegiances switch, give your attention to the excluded child of the moment - whisk them off for an adventure and ice cream helps!Īn especially charged topic among parents is favoritism. Suddenly you are feeding the baby and have sofa divers on your hands! Older siblings grow closer and develop as collaborators and co-conspirators.Ī triangulation of sibling relationships occurs with three kids, which can often mean an odd man out. With three kids comes three times the chaos! Older children have to become more independent, which often involves being more adventuresome and more destructive. You have to double-up and the logistics get more complex. You no longer have one parent per child and everyone gets less individual time and attention. Here you must move from one-on-one to a zone defense. Having a third child also means a changed parenting style. The youngest children tend to be most affectionate, and more sophisticated than their peers without older siblings to show them the ropes. The baby of the family basks in the sentimentality of being the last child, and are basically spoiled rotten. They may feel that they do not get as much praise as the older children for simple firsts like tying a shoe or riding a bike. The middle child usually has to fight harder for the attention of their parents and therefore crave the family spotlight. ![]() Middle children have to try a little harder to “be heard” or get noticed. Thus many middle children grow up with a more relaxed attitude towards life than their older siblings though they have to compete for family attention against the milestones set by the oldest, and growing up in their shadow. Parents tend to be much more easy-going, less anxious, and less demanding with second and third children. Three kids triangulate sibling relationships, with one child at any given point feeling like the odd man out from the chumminess of the other two. Middle kids bemoan their fate as being ignored and often grow resentful of all the parental attention given to the oldest and the baby of the family, and feel short-shifted. Yes, the “Middle Child Syndrome” is very real. Older children also may have the added responsibility of taking care of their younger brothers or sisters.Īdding second and third children greatly impacts the family structure, and a middle child is created. However, as a child gets older frustrations can develop as oldest children tend to have more parental restrictions than younger siblings. ![]() Plus, the baby gets full parental time and attention. Every first is something new and exciting to celebrate. Parents are nervous and making a trial run of their parenting skills. ![]() The oldest child or the firstborn is always going to be the most anticipated and exciting for the parent. And, all but two of the first astronauts sent into space were first-borns. Presidents were either the first-born child or the first-born son in their families. Oldest kids tend to emerge strong confident leaders.
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