Only children’s cognitive development by age 11 is more affected by things like their parents’ relationship and wealth than whether they have brothers and sisters.
All brothers and sisters have tensions or disagreements from time to time as they jockey for position in the family. But when one sibling victimizes another, there can be serious and ongoing harms.
Jan Feld, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Anne Ardila Brenøe, University of Zurich, and Thomas Dudek, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Researchers have long differed on whether growing up with a sister or brother influences who we become as adults. New research using big data aims to finally settle the argument.
A psychology researcher explains, squabbling is a child’s first go at figuring out how to get along with others. So, it is possible to see it as a positive.
Interestingly, there are more non-identical twins in Australia now than there have been before. The number of twin pregnancies has grown over the past 30 years.
Being the oldest, middle or youngest child doesn’t affect personality as much as we may think. But the relationship we have with our siblings can influence both cognitive and emotional development.
Research shows that family has an important role in getting children to play sport and nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the Rugby World Cup.
Parents tend to have greater expectations of their firstborns. But, it’s different when the younger sibling is a girl. What impact does it have on their grades?
Professor, Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary