Although I am not an singular child myself, I am a mother of an only. Let me tell you how many times I encounter conversations such as: “How sweet, she must be your first! When do you plan on having another?” Shortly followed with my annoyance, “No I am done, she will be my one and only.” In return of utter ignorance, “Well do you not think she will be lonely and will need someone to play with growing up. You’re still young you do not know for sure.” Where does this stereotype come from I constantly ask myself? Is it true that all “only” children grow to become selfish, lonely, entitled, dependent brats?
In fact the stigmatism has stemmed from Psychologist Granville Stanley Hall (1896) whom Supervised the study Of Peculiar and Exceptional …show more content…
Along with current research providing findings that oppose the stigmatism around only children being the only ones whom can struggle with dependency on their mom/dad, and loneliness resulting in the imagination to create make-belief friends, or display of poor social skills, becoming “spoiled” and selfish.
As there are many pros and cons to being a multi-child family, there are also many disadvantage and advantages belonging to a singular family. Child Psychologist Dr. Ruth Coppard said: “In an average home the more children, the less privacy for each child. Some love sharing a bedroom with a sibling but they would rather choose to do it than have to do it. There is also no competition for parental time.”
Previous misleading research states that only children are more dependent on their parents. While an only child may have the opportunity to receive more direct attention than a multi-child family would there is no supporting evidence that a singular child is more dependent on their parent than the …show more content…
The youngster who is unable to take the view of another is going to appear selfish. There are points in people’s lives, one of them being adolescence, when the energy is withdrawn. Hormonal changes and physical growth during that time may be particularly harsh and the energy to focus on others just isn’t there.” Every person, let alone a child can display selfish characteristics time to time, it is up to the parents to model compassion and sharing skills from infancy when in a singular