Everybody talks about the benefits of growing up with siblings, so being an only child is often seen as a bad thing. People worry about siblingless children lacking companions and being lonely as they grow, but that’s not always the case. In fact, there are 17 unexpected benefits of growing up as an only child.
No Sibling Rivalry
Sibling rivalry is normal, but it can also destroy many sibling relationships. When you clash with your brother or sister, there’s no escape from the chaos because you live together. Some people come to loathe their siblings because they spent so much time fighting while growing up.
Strong Parent-Child Bonds
People often talk about the importance of brothers and sisters getting along, but they sometimes forget how important it is for parents and children to be close. According to Psychology Today, only children have closer bonds with their parents than children with siblings due to more one-on-one time and the absence of competition. This greatly enriches their quality of life growing up.
No Favoritism
Favoritism usually plays a role in every family dynamic. Usually, siblings are categorized as either the ‘golden child’ or the ‘black sheep.’ The golden child is the favorite and believed to be more beautiful, successful, or lovable than the black sheep, who becomes the family scapegoat. This toxic dynamic doesn’t exist for only children.
Better Financial Security
Children are expensive, and having more than you can afford is irresponsible. As a result, children without siblings usually have better financial security because their parents aren’t splitting their money between multiple children. This gives them greater privileges, high-quality belongings, and more comfort growing up.
Independence
All children should be taught to be independent, and teaching an only child is easier. Not having siblings to rely on for companionship and help is seen as bad, but it encourages self-reliance and independent thinking. Only children also gain confidence quickly because they have to speak for themselves.
Being Comfortable Alone
Alone time is essential for good mental health. Verywell Mind recommends taking some solitary time to free yourself from social pressures and tap into your own thoughts and feelings. People with no siblings are more comfortable alone because they grew up spending time by themselves, which has excellent emotional benefits.
More Privacy
One of the main reasons siblings argue is a lack of privacy. Even if they have their own rooms, they feel like their personal space is being violated. When they become hormonal teenagers, fights get worse, especially when parents continue forcing them to spend time together. Only children don’t have to worry about this.
Setting Your Own Goals
In families with multiple children, the oldest sibling usually sets the precedent for the others. If they achieve highly, parents expect the other children to follow suit, often to the chagrin of the younger siblings. Only children can set their own goals without being expected to follow in a sibling’s footsteps.
Fewer Arguments
Arguing gets old fast, but siblings living in a house together always find something new to fight about. This is emotionally exhausting for their parents and doesn’t foster close sibling bonds, either. For only children, there are only their parents to fight with, which happens less frequently than with siblings.
Making Friends Easily
Some people believe that only children struggle to make friends because they don’t have sibling companions, but this isn’t true. Only children have the freedom to choose their own companions, so they quickly make friends on playdates or when they start school. They learn those essential social skills outside the home.
Better Imagination
Sometimes, being an only child does get lonely. That’s why only children rely more heavily on their imaginations for fun and games than children with siblings. The National Institutes of Health found that imaginary friends often play a significant role in only children’s lives to support them and promote creativity.
Maturity
No child should have to grow up too fast, but learning maturity isn’t a bad thing. Maturity comes more naturally to only children because they spend more time around adults than other kids, picking up important words and habits. They also benefit from more attention from their parents, which aids their development.
Your Own Belongings
Sharing is an important skill for children to learn, but it’s the source of much conflict between siblings. Parents encourage them to share everything, which leads to resentment over having nothing special of their own. Only children don’t have to share their belongings at home and can be taught the value of looking after them.
More Experiences
Having more time and money to spend on them means only children get the incredible benefit of more experiences with their parents. It’s easier to travel as a family, take days out, and spend time together at home. There are no siblings to pay for or fight with, so the experiences are usually seamless.
Closer Relationships with Extended Family
Siblings aren’t the only family members children can be close with. Only children frequently find childhood companions in their cousins, and they enjoy not having to compete with siblings for their time. There’s also less competition for affection and attention from aunts, uncles, and grandparents. These childhood relationships with extended family last a lifetime.
No Comparisons
Parents and teachers often start sibling rivalries by comparing siblings to one another. Today’s Parent reports that parents regularly believe their eldest child to be more intelligent than their younger siblings, even if the siblings are equally competent. These comparisons emotionally harm children growing up, but only children don’t need to worry.
More Peace
A happy household is a peaceful household, but that’s often near impossible when a family has multiple children. Siblings verbally and physically fight, disrupting the entire family dynamic and upsetting the parents. Growing up as an only child may mean more time alone but also more peace and quiet.
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