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It is likely the first born in your family will get a better education and make more money as an adult, according to new research.
From News for parents.org:
A new study published in the Journal of Human Resources shows first-born children get about 3,000 more hours of quality time with their parents between ages 4 and 13 than the next sibling gets when they pass through the same age range.
The study provides a possible explanation for why older children tend to get more education, make more money and score higher on IQ tests. Brigham Young University economics professor Joseph Price conducted the analysis.
Price says his findings on birth order and quality time surprise most parents who try to split their attention evenly across all their children. This study shows parents do provide equal time on any particular day, but not when looking at each child's total time with parents between their fourth and fourteenth birthdays. That's because the amount of time parents spend with children on a daily basis declines as families get older. First-born children get more quality time simply because they pass through childhood when there is more overall family time to be shared.
I often hear parents kid about how the second child doesn't have a photo album and no one was really dedicated to them. I think most parents do make an effort to give the second child (or third or fourth) the same attention as the others. When I read this article, I started feeling bad for my second little one. I hope he gets the opportunity to get a good education and doesn't have a lower I.Q. than he could. I guess we'll just have to keep this study in mind and do what we can to prevent it from coming true.
What do you do to make sure your kids get equal treatment?
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
7 comments:
Genetically, the first born also is at an advantage because new/spontaneous sperm mutations (germline) are fewer in younger fathers. http://autism-prevention.blogspot.com/ T
I have 4 grown children and the 3rd one has been the most sucessful in life. The others have done well but he has went over the top !
Truthfully, I never worry about "equal" but am concerned more with each getting what they need at a particular time. Some days one child needs more time/attention/help than the other. Hopefully in the end they've both recieved all that they've needed and most of what they've wanted.
Oh, but as the oldest child in my family I do kind of like this study!
Jennifer, I am the oldest in my family too! But I do have a younger brother who got an outrageous ACT score-much better than-mine. That makes me wonder!
Anonymous, that is good to know for all the second, third and fourth kids out there!
Jen...I'm the first-born , and have 5 brtohers and 1 sister. Most make more than I do...but, then again, I'm in broadcasting!! LOL
Dan,
Yah, who knew there wasn't much money in broadcasting unless you're in a large city? No one told me that either. Oh well, I still love it!
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