How is it that siblings can turn out so differently?
How
is
it
that
siblings
can
turn
out
so
differently
?
One answer is that in fact each sibling grows up in a different family.
One
answer
is
that
in
fact
each
sibling
grows
up
in
a
different
family
.
The firstborn is, for a while, an only child, and therefore has a completely different experience of the parents than those born later.
The
firstborn
is
,
for
a
while
,
an
only
child
,
and
therefore
has
a
completely
different
experience
of
the
parents
than
those
born
later
.
The next child is, for a while, the youngest, until the situation is changed by a new arrival.
The
next
child
is
,
for
a
while
,
the
youngest
,
until
the
situation
is
changed
by
a
new
arrival
.
The mother and father themselves are changing and growing up too.
The
mother
and
father
themselves
are
changing
and
growing
up
too
.
One sibling might live in a stable and close family in the first few years; another might be raised in a family crisis, with a disappointed mother or an angry father.
One
sibling
might
live
in
a
stable
and
close
family
in
the
first
few
years
;
another
might
be
raised
in
a
family
crisis
,
with
a
disappointed
mother
or
an
angry
father
.
Sibling competition was identified as an important shaping force as early as in 1918.
Sibling
competition
was
identified
as
an
important
shaping
force
as
early
as
in
1918
.
But more recently, researchers have found many ways in which brothers and sisters are a lasting force in each others' lives.
But
more
recently
,
researchers
have
found
many
ways
in
which
brothers
and
sisters
are
a
lasting
force
in
each
others
'
lives
.
Dr. Annette Henderson says firstborn children pick up vocabulary more quickly than their siblings.
Dr.
Annette
Henderson
says
firstborn
children
pick
up
vocabulary
more
quickly
than
their
siblings
.
The reason for this might be that the later children aren't getting the same one-on-one time with parents.
The
reason
for
this
might
be
that
the
later
children
are
n't
getting
the
same
one-on-one
time
with
parents
.
But that doesn't mean that the younger children have problems with language development.
But
that
does
n't
mean
that
the
younger
children
have
problems
with
language
development
.
Later-borns don't enjoy that much talking time with parents, but instead they harvest lessons from bigger brothers and sisters, learning entire phrases and getting an understanding of social concepts such as the difference between "I" and "me".
Later-borns
do
n't
enjoy
that
much
talking
time
with
parents
,
but
instead
they
harvest
lessons
from
bigger
brothers
and
sisters
,
learning
entire
phrases
and
getting
an
understanding
of
social
concepts
such
as
the
difference
between
``
I
''
and
``
me
''
.
A Cambridge University study of 140 children found that siblings created a rich world of play that helped them grow socially.
A
Cambridge
University
study
of
140
children
found
that
siblings
created
a
rich
world
of
play
that
helped
them
grow
socially
.
Love-hate relationships were common among the children.
Love-hate
relationships
were
common
among
the
children
.
Even those siblings who fought the most had just as much positive communication as the other sibling pairs.
Even
those
siblings
who
fought
the
most
had
just
as
much
positive
communication
as
the
other
sibling
pairs
.
One way children seek more attention from parents is by making themselves different from their siblings, particularly if they are close in age.
One
way
children
seek
more
attention
from
parents
is
by
making
themselves
different
from
their
siblings
,
particularly
if
they
are
close
in
age
.
Researchers have found that the first two children in a family are typically more different from each other than the second and third.
Researchers
have
found
that
the
first
two
children
in
a
family
are
typically
more
different
from
each
other
than
the
second
and
third
.
Girls with brothers show their differences to a maximum degree by being more feminine than girls with sisters.
Girls
with
brothers
show
their
differences
to
a
maximum
degree
by
being
more
feminine
than
girls
with
sisters
.
A 2003 research paper studied adolescents from 185 families over two years, finding that those who changed to make themselves different from their siblings were successful in increasing the amount of warmth they gained from their parents.
A
2003
research
paper
studied
adolescents
from
185
families
over
two
years
,
finding
that
those
who
changed
to
make
themselves
different
from
their
siblings
were
successful
in
increasing
the
amount
of
warmth
they
gained
from
their
parents
.
How is it that siblings can turn out so differently? One answer is that in fact each sibling grows up in a different family. The firstborn is, for a while, an only child, and therefore has a completely different experience of the parents than those born later. The next child is, for a while, the youngest, until the situation is changed by a new arrival. The mother and father themselves are changing and growing up too. One sibling might live in a stable and close family in the first few years; another might be raised in a family crisis, with a disappointed mother or an angry father.  Sibling competition was identified as an important shaping force as early as in 1918. But more recently, researchers have found many ways in which brothers and sisters are a lasting force in each others' lives. Dr. Annette Henderson says firstborn children pick up vocabulary more quickly than their siblings. The reason for this might be that the later children aren't getting the same one-on-one time with parents. But that doesn't mean that the younger children have problems with language development. Later-borns don't enjoy that much talking time with parents, but instead they harvest lessons from bigger brothers and sisters, learning entire phrases and getting an understanding of social concepts such as the difference between "I" and "me".  A Cambridge University study of 140 children found that siblings created a rich world of play that helped them grow socially. Love-hate relationships were common among the children. Even those siblings who fought the most had just as much positive communication as the other sibling pairs.  One way children seek more attention from parents is by making themselves different from their siblings, particularly if they are close in age. Researchers have found that the first two children in a family are typically more different from each other than the second and third. Girls with brothers show their differences to a maximum degree by being more feminine than girls with sisters. A 2003 research paper studied adolescents from 185 families over two years, finding that those who changed to make themselves different from their siblings were successful in increasing the amount of warmth they gained from their parents.