Is it better to be an only child?

Dae (Only child)

Growing up as an only child may have once been stereotyped as a lonely, spoiled, or even unhinged existence, but recent research shows that being an only child can come with some unique advantage, making being an only child arguably better than having siblings.

Firstly, only children receive more attention from their parents. With no siblings to compete with, parents can focus all their attention and resources on their child. This translates to more opportunities for support, encouragement, and guidance, which can result in higher academic achievement and development. Also, only children can go on to develop greater independence. With no siblings around to play with, only children often learn to entertain themselves and solve problems on their own. This can lead to a greater sense of self-reliance, which can be an invaluable skill throughout life.

Without siblings to compete with, only children may experience less conflict and tension at home. Sibling rivalry is a common source of stress and conflict in many families. Being an only child can lead to a more harmonious family dynamic, with less tension and more peaceful interactions. In addition, parents of only children may have more financial resources to invest in their child's education, extracurricular activities, and overall well-being. Without having to divide their resources among multiple children, parents can provide their only child with greater access to resources and experiences. 

Overall, being an only child has its advantages. From increased attention from parents, greater independence, less conflict and tension at home, and more financial resources dedicated to their every need, only children can benefit from a unique set of advantages. While some challenges may be associated with being an only child, the advantages far outweigh the drawbacks.

Rob (Siblings)

One could argue that an only child receives more love and attention from their parents but also misses out on many other benefits of growing up with siblings. According to a study, children with siblings are more likely to develop better social skills than those without. This is because they learn to share responsibilities and belongings from an early age and learn to get along with each other in the process. 

Siblings also get introduced to how the world works by experiencing sibling rivalries, which helps them develop conflict resolution skills. They learn all these important lessons by experience from the peers they live with rather than adults, who may be gentler and more cautious with them. While siblings can be quite hard on each other sometimes—especially when they're younger, they get a lot closer as they grow and learn to support each other emotionally throughout their lives. Most people feel more comfortable sharing their problems with their siblings rather than their parents since they always seem to understand each other better. 

Children with siblings are also more active since they have playmates and are thus less likely to be obese. According to a study, people who grow up without siblings are at higher risk for higher BMI later in their childhood. Another study also found that having siblings was associated with lower levels of depression. 

Most people who grew up with siblings imagine life as an only child would be boring. Others raised as only children believe life would have been better with siblings. This may help explain why most women prefer to have more than one child.