Birth Order Traits

A lot of factors can affect your child's personality, such as age, gender, gap between siblings, family
income, demographics, and more. But generally speaking, eldest children "identify with parents and
authority, and support the status quo, whereas younger children rebel against it," according to Frank
Sulloway, adjunct professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and one of the world's experts
on birth order and family dynamics.
First-born children are known to be perfectionists, goal-oriented, and self-reliant, yet are sometimes
criticized for being self-centered, rigid, and overly critical, among other traits, according to research
from Purdue University. Only children are similar to eldest children, yet sometimes can be lonely and
feel inferior, according to the research. The birth order report characterizes middle children as
mediators who like to avoid conflict, are people-oriented, but can be free-spirited and secretive. And
last-born children are described as outgoing, affectionate, and charming people who can sometimes
be manipulative and attention-seeking. 
While parenting affects a child's personality, "birth order and parenting play a huge role in my mind,"
says Circle of Moms member Rosie P., based on her family's dynamics. Her baby brother still lives at
home at age 25. "That would be unheard of if it were me or my sister. However, he works, he helps out
around the house, and he is a very good kid, but somehow he can't cut the apron strings," she says.
Meanwhile, she recalls her husband, who was an older brother, would look after his little sister.  
Tana K. says she and her children fit the stereotypes, as well. "My first is exactly what they say. He's
unbelievably patient for a 2-year-old, he is very much a perfectionist, and loves things to go his way,"
she says. As the eldest child, she also recognizes the "grin and bear it" mentality in herself. And she
already can see the traits of the youngest child in her 10-month-old. "He is very much a risk-taker, he
gets into more trouble than my 2-year-old does, and he loves attention from anyone or anything. He is
also extremely sensitive."
Danielle G. agrees that there's some truth to birth order traits, noting she worked on a college project
about birth order and believes her middle child fits the stereotypes to a T. "Middle children tend to be
the most independent, and a lot of times that leads to trouble-making or what not. Also a study was
done [that indicated about] 80 percent or so as adults said they felt left out being the middle child,
even though we spend a lot of time with them. They know the oldest was first, and the baby is the
baby, they don't have a 'place.'" 

http://www.popsugar.com/moms/How-Birth-Order-Affects-Personality-30485755?

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Summary of this article –

Eldest child Middle Child Youngest child

Identify with parents and Mediators Rebels against the parents
authority and supports the and authority and the status
status quo quo
Perfectionist Avoid conflict Outgoing
Goal orientated People oriented Affectionate
Self-reliant Free spirted Charming
But often is criticized for Secretive May be manipulative
being self-centred/rigid and
overly critical
Patient Love attention from anyone Attention seeking
Loves things to go their way Independent
Can lead to being the trouble
maker
Only children normally are They often feel left out
classified as 1st Children

Answer the following questions;

Where are you in your sibling position?
Do you relate to this article and the You Tube video - For you and your brothers or sisters? If not, why
do you think there is a difference?
Do you think it is important to think about this when working with children? Why?
Does your parents relate better or worse with the child who is in the same place as them in their
sibling order?