Sibling dynamics play a profound role in shaping a child’s character. When brothers and sisters are expected to share household responsibilities, they gain more than practical skills, they develop ...

Modern research echoes Adler’s theses. In simple terms, siblings differentiate themselves to reduce direct competition. If ...

As a firstborn child, the author knows firsthand the pressure that her oldest daughter is experiencing.Courtesy of Rachel Garlinghouse I grew up the oldest of three, so I know firsthand the ...

I am one of four children, all in our 30s. We live in different countries, although all born in the UK where I and our parents live. My work has taken me from my birthplace in Northumberland toward ...

Some siblings cut off toxic family members to protect themselves from being hurt repeatedly. Those who are shunned, however, often suffer endlessly, confused over why a brother or sister cut them off.

Sibling rivalry, a term popularized by David Levy in 1941, describes the aggressive response older siblings often have to a ...

In families raising a child with disabilities, the emotional spotlight often falls on the child with special needs. Parents become full-time advocates, therapists, and caregivers. Meanwhile, ...

This can be a tricky dilemma to navigate with young siblings; it’s one child’s birthday and they deserve for the day to be centered around them. Except, this comes at the very real risk of tears and ...

Ask any elder sibling about the joys of being the oldest, and you’re bound to get mixed answers. Sometimes, it means extra responsibility, caring for the younger ones when parents can’t. Other times, ...

First-born children earn measurably higher incomes than their younger siblings on average. This pattern holds across diverse cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and family sizes. Birth order itself ...

I grew up the oldest of three, so I know firsthand the responsibility that an oldest child can feel. Oldest children often take on leadership roles, feeling pressure to meet high expectations. I'm ...