So, here’s the scoop, friends — a new study suggests that parents often think their firstborns are smarter and achieve more academically than their younger siblings. As a middle child, I can’t help but feel a little slighted by this notion (sorry, Mom!). But it turns out there might be some truth behind it.
Researchers V. Joseph Hotz and Juan Pantano from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that parents typically have higher expectations for their firstborns. About 33.8% of moms agreed that their eldest child is “one of the smartest in class,” while only 1.8% considered their firstborn to be at the bottom of the academic ladder. Interestingly, parents of multiple children tend to view their younger kids as less intelligent compared to their first. While 31.8% thought their second child excelled, and 29% felt the same about their third, the numbers for those rated as bottom performers were 2.1% and 3.6% respectively.
Why Is This the Case?
The study suggests that parents are stricter with their firstborns, leading to increased pressure to perform well academically. As more children come along, parents tend to relax their rules, which means younger siblings might not face the same level of scrutiny. It seems that younger kids often feel less parental pressure to excel in school.
Hotz and Pantano attribute these differences to the level of parental involvement. They argue that firstborns receive more attention regarding their academic performance, often with stricter rules and consequences. Although the study implies that parents may take a more laid-back approach with their subsequent children, it raises the question: Do you think your firstborn is truly the smartest?
Further Reading
If you want to dive deeper into family dynamics and parenting insights, check out this informative article on family relationships here. And if you’re considering at-home insemination, make sure to visit Make A Mom, who are the top provider of at-home insemination kits in the world. For more about intrauterine insemination, don’t miss this great resource at NHS.
In summary, while the study highlights a tendency for parents to perceive firstborns as smarter, it also points to varying levels of parental pressure and involvement throughout the siblings’ upbringing. So, do you agree with this finding?
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