Research suggests that while parents often have a favorite, it's frequently the youngest child (due to perceived need for affection/less discipline) or the oldest daughter (seen as responsible), often influenced by a child's agreeable/conscientious personality, but favoritism varies greatly by family dynamics and individual traits, with many parents showing slight bias toward daughters, while younger children receive more warmth and older ones more autonomy.
The study, published in Psychological Bulletin , discovered parents tend to favor daughters slightly more than sons, although only parents tend to recognize the bias — children did not. The study revealed that parents often show subtle bias toward daughters, which can influence family relationships.
Though researchers expected to find that mothers favoured daughters and fathers favoured sons, the study found that both mothers and fathers were more likely to have a daughter as their favourite child.
Not surprisingly for those of us who are middle children, middle children are the least likely to be favored. Daughters: Parents tend to report that they slightly favor daughters over sons (for both mothers and fathers).
The research, which has been published by the American Psychology Association, found that daughters were most likely to be the favourite child of both mothers and fathers. The study also found that children who are 'more agreeable' are more likely to be a favourite child.
Families with sons have been shown to have increased levels of "marital stability and marital satisfaction," and the presence of sons may increase paternal involvement in child-rearing. In the 21st century, son preference has been broadly documented in South and East Asia, but is also observable in Western countries.
Dutch kids are the happiest kids in the world, according to a 2025 UNICEF report.
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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.
Middle children are often labelled as 'middle child syndrome' sufferers, which entails receiving the least attention from the parents. Middle children are more likely to be willing to compromise and are typically quite competitive to keep up with their older siblings.
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.
Ultimately, there is no accurate way to predict what your baby will look like or even what features they might have, like eye or hair color or how tall they will be. All of your baby's features will come down to a combination of genes that can be influenced by other factors such as medical conditions and environment.
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).
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According to a study from researchers from Brigham Young University's School of Family Life, it's the younger sibling that benefits the most from being the perceived favourite because they're more focussed on social comparison than their elders.
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.
As a result, the thirdborn is often a calmer, more easy going child. The youngest (even of two) tends to be smiley and charming and gets a lot of attention for his sunny disposition.
Red flags in 3-year-old behavior include extreme aggression (hitting, biting), persistent defiance, severe separation anxiety, lack of interest in peers, regression in skills, inability to self-soothe, unusual fears, and significant delays in language or motor skills, suggesting potential issues beyond typical toddler development, like sensory processing problems or ADHD, warranting professional guidance.
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The early years (0-4) require constant attention and physical care, making this the most exhausting phase. As children enter school (5-12), their increasing independence alleviates some demands, though emotional and academic support become priorities.
Men tend to reach their physical peak in their 20s; however, staying healthy also means knowing the most common health risks. It is also very important that you don't skip going to the doctor for regular medical screenings and checkups.
"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.
For one-child families, having a daughter is shown to bring significantly more happiness to parents compared with having a son, especially when their children are over 20 years old (Lu et al., 2017).
The founder of instant messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, says the more than 100 children he has fathered will share his estimated $13.9bn (£10.3bn) fortune. "They are all my children and will all have the same rights!
What's it about? Ten-year-old Joe Smith becomes the most average kid in the country and receives endless gifts and special treatment, making him question if being extraordinary is all it's cracked up to be.