Research suggests that only children often experience comparable or even greater happiness, life satisfaction, and positive traits like maturity and creativity, partly due to focused parental attention and less conflict, though siblings offer unique benefits like built-in social skills and support. Studies show happiness tends to decline with more siblings, as only children often have stronger parent-child bonds and more opportunities for self-discovery and independence.
A new study has revealed that only children tend to be smarter, happier and more creative than those who grew up with siblings.
Yes, studies have shown for a while that older siblings are on average more successful than younger siblings, but only children are also proven to be more independent, assertive, and creative.
There was no set of qualities that guaranteed being the golden child, but the favorites tended to be daughters and younger siblings. A large analysis published earlier this year similarly found that in childhood, daughters were more likely to get preferential treatment from their parents.
Research suggests that only children and children with siblings are just as likely to exhibit traits like selfishness, perfectionism, and a desire for control, among others. That said, only children may exhibit certain characteristics more commonly than those who grow up with siblings.
More recent research shows very little difference at all. Only children do not have poorer social skills. They are not more selfish or narcissistic.
The "3-3-3 Rule" for kids is a simple mindfulness technique to manage anxiety by grounding them in the present moment: first, name three things they can see; next, identify three sounds they hear; and finally, move three different parts of their body. This engages their senses, shifts focus from worries, and helps them regain control when feeling overwhelmed, like during test anxiety or social situations.
The 7-7-7 rule of parenting generally refers to dedicating three daily 7-minute periods of focused, undistracted connection with your child (morning, after school, bedtime) to build strong bonds and make them feel seen and valued. A less common interpretation involves three developmental stages (0-7 years of play, 7-14 years of teaching, 14-21 years of advising), while another offers a stress-relief breathing technique (7-second inhale, hold, exhale).
A glass child is someone with a sibling who has a medical, behavioral or developmental condition that requires extra support. Our needs can often be overlooked by our parents and caregivers, who spend most of their time caring for our sibling. In this case, “glass” doesn't mean fragile. Far from it!
Lola is likely her least favorite. Like has been said, she cost Linlin a valuable alliance, but Chiffon is likely pretty detested as well. Not only does she look like Lola, she actively took part in an assassination plot against Big Mom herself.
Only children often struggled with conflict and joint decision-making, issues that arose during their early romantic relationships and required special attention. He suggested that the lack of exposure to the rough and tumble of sibling rivalry and play could be one cause of discomfort with conflict.
"70/30 parenting" refers to a child custody arrangement where one parent has the child for about 70% of the time (the primary parent) and the other parent has them for 30% (often weekends and some mid-week time), creating a stable "home base" while allowing the non-primary parent significant, meaningful involvement, but it also requires strong communication and coordination to manage schedules, school events, and disagreements effectively.
Best Match: Oldest Child or Youngest Child
Youssef explains that eldest and youngest siblings would make a good match for the only child. “Only children often appreciate the attention and care they receive from an oldest child, [and] the oldest sibling's leadership and stability can provide a comforting structure.
A twenty-year tracking study of 3,000 high school students demonstrated that only children have higher IQs than their peers with one sibling -- in fact, "there are marked negative effects on IQ of increasing sib size." If you test the vocabularies of only children, they'll score nine points higher than children from ...
Having or not having a second child is a decision that we all have to make. And we know giving siblings to our children is a beautiful gift to them. But we also have to remember that it is a big responsibility. This human being is going be an adult who will be affecting his own life and a lot of other lives.
A household size of about four members is predictive of higher happiness levels. People in these households enjoy abundant and very satisfactory relationships. People who live on their own often experience lower levels of happiness, primarily due to lower levels of relational satisfaction.
8 Signs of a Toxic Sibling
Golden child syndrome, or being a “golden child,” is a term typically used by familes to refer to a child in the family that's regarded as exceptional in some way. The golden child is expected to be extraordinary at everything, not make mistakes, and essentially be “perfect.”
Disorganized attachment appears particularly common in only children, with around 25% of only children claiming they have this attachment style. A smaller 20% of only children identify as having an avoidant attachment, and 17% as anxiously attached.
What Is a Good Mother?
Tiger parenting is a form of strict parenting, whereby parents are highly invested in ensuring their children's success. Specifically, tiger parents push their children to attain high levels of academic achievement or success in high-status extracurricular activities such as music or sports.
Do:
The Golden Rules for Children – Helping to Keep Life Simple!
Red flags in 3-year-olds include extreme aggression, intense tantrums with property damage, severe anxiety/fear, lack of pretend play, not using sentences, poor eye contact, refusing to interact with peers, losing old skills, or being unable to follow simple directions, suggesting potential developmental delays or emotional challenges needing professional attention. While normal toddler behavior involves tantrums and defiance, persistent, intense, or unusual patterns warrant a check-up with a pediatrician.