The Influence of Birth Order on Development

Where a child falls in the family birth order can significantly influence their development and life outcomes. Research has shown that firstborn children tend to have advantages such as higher levels of education and increased earning potential, particularly when there is a large age gap between siblings. Studies indicate that cognitive stimulation from parents is more robust for firstborns, as they receive undivided attention during critical developmental years, which can diminish for later-born children. As parents add more children to the family, the resources, time, and energy allocated to earlier ones may be spread thinner, potentially impacting their cognitive growth and academic success over time.