Being an only child: burden or privilege?

The issue of the only child has sparked great controversies, especially in recent times when a good part of the couples in the world no longer want to have a large number of offspring. While it is true that siblings are a great gift for any human being, so is the fact that mothers and fathers currently have many roles and that prevents them from dedicating a good amount of time to the family.

A while ago the advantage of having large families was unquestionable. Mothers remained at home and were the protagonists in raising their children. But in the 21st century things are very different. It is clear that the majority of fathers and mothers must work and this means that they dedicate only a part, sometimes very small, of their time to parenting.

Now couples are also much less stable and have less support from the extended family. That’s why cases have increased in which if there is more than one child in the family, the eldest ends up raising the youngest, or they all end up being cared for by someone else, which does not always guarantee a good education. And, in any case, it never replaces parents.

The advantages of being an only child

Without a doubt, an only child has great advantages. Although they have a reputation for being selfish and capricious, in reality this does not have to be that way. If only children have a good education, they may actually have a privileged condition to mature and grow in a healthy way.. There are several factors that count in its favor:

Only children have more attention from their parents. They do not have to divide their time and worries among several children and, therefore, they have the possibility of doing their work better. This special attention almost always gives only children greater self-confidence and higher self-esteem.They tend to have faster intellectual development. Since only children basically interact with adults, especially in their early years, it is common for them to have faster linguistic and thinking development than other children.Only children are almost always more organized and responsible.. Since they do not live with other children, they will most likely adopt the order and work model that their parents have. In general, they are children who know how to apply themselves to their duties and ensure that their things are always well organized.Only children know how to adapt to loneliness and develop hobbies that require intellectual work.. Loneliness is only negative when it means lack of support or understanding. On the other hand, it has a lot of positive when it allows people to know themselves better and be more independent. At the same time, it is not uncommon for only children to develop an interest in reading, painting or other types of activities that can be done alone.

The disadvantages of being an only child

Although having only one child allows parents to provide them with more dedication and greater financial security, it is also a situation that creates some difficulties. Siblings take away attention and give rise to rivalry, but they also provide valuable lessons for maturation. Therefore, these are some disadvantages when you do not have siblings:

The only child is, in general, more egocentric. It is difficult for him to understand that everyone has his turn in a game and that not everything he does is going to be celebrated by adults. Sometimes it is difficult for him to adapt to groups, for this reason.Sometimes they mature too soon. This would not be negative, if it were not for the fact that by maturing so quickly their spontaneity also decreases and this leads them to be less cheerful. They have a hard time allowing themselves to “do stupid things” and, although this pleases adults, children may grow up being too rigid.They have trouble being generous. It seems normal to them that everyone solves their own problems and solves their own needs. It is difficult for them to share what they have, both materially and emotionally. They do not “give themselves” to others easily.Only Children Can Become Reserved, because they cannot share the experiences with their parents at home. They may have a lot of trust in their parents, but this will never replace the complicity and closeness that can be had with siblings. That’s why they can become somewhat reserved and distant. It is also possible that they are not very skilled at resolving conflicts with others.

It is also decisive that they renounce overprotecting them or exercising excessive control over them.. In this way, they will be able to enjoy the advantages of being only children and reduce the chances of them becoming people who close themselves in on themselves and their own interests, without really taking others into account.

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