Is there a link between your child’s birth order and their personality?

Have you ever wondered if there is a link between the birth order and personalities of your kids?

Siblings can have personalities that are so different from each other that if you didn’t know better, you’d think they weren’t related! ?

Have you ever thought about how siblings growing up in the same family, exposed to the same parents and environment, can possibly be so different?

Well here’s an interesting article in Asian Parent Magzine to get you thinking !

Dr Kevin Leman, a psychologist who has studied birth order and personality since 1967 and author of The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are, guarantees that the firstborn and second born in any given family will be quite different.

According to Leman, many sibling personality differences can be attributed to two factors: birth order (if a person is a first, middle, last born or only child) and how parents treat each child because of it. Other experts add that siblings changing behaviour in different ways to get their parents’ attention can also shape their personality.

The firstborn child

Parenting a firstborn can often involve a mix of instinct and trial-and-error. Often, new parents stick to the rules quite rigidly, are very attentive and may worry about the slightest thing. This may cause firstborns to be perfectionists and overachievers.

According to experts, firstborns like taking charge and are often very confident about everything. This is probably due to the fact that when they try to do something for the first time (such as riding a bike), they don’t have older siblings laughing at them if they make a mistake.

Firstborns are commonly:

– Reliable
– Conscientious
– Structured
– Cautious
– Controlling
– Achiever

The second born / middle child

Don’t be surprised if your middle child appears completely different from your first born.

Leman says that middle children’s personalities are formed in relation to how they perceive their older sibling. So if the second born thinks his big sister is always in mum’s good books, he may actually rebel or play up to get attention!

Middle children are often:

– Good negotiators
– Independent
– People pleasers
– Rebellious
– Peacemakers

The last born child

By the time parents have their last child, they are usually pros at child-rearing and are no longer those nervous, first-time parents they once were.

In general, parents are more relaxed and easy-going about things and this attitude often rubs off on the last born child.

However, it’s not all about fun and games for last borns. Because last borns see their siblings as faster, bigger, stronger and smarter, they may adopt an “I’ll show you” attitude, and may be rebellious and headstrong.

As the baby of the family, last borns can be a little spoilt and very charming – and they are usually the most creative.

Last born children are typically:

– Fun-loving
– Uncomplicated
– Manipulative
– Outgoing
– Self-centered

What are your experiences?

How are your kids different or similar ?

To read the whole article go to http://sg.theasianparent.com/birth-order-and-personality/