The Sibling Effect

 

Researchers had finally realized the significance of sibling relationships.  Nobody affects us as deeply as our brothers and sisters.

THE MANY ROLES SIBLINGS FULFILL FOR EACH OTHER

They are our collaborators, co-conspirators, role models and cautionary tales

They are our scolds, protectors, goads, tormentors, playmates, counselors, sources of envy, objects of pride.

They help us learn how to resolve conflicts and how not to; how to conduct friendships and when to walk away from them.

Sisters teach brothers about the mysteries of girls; brothers teach sisters about the puzzle of boys.

Bigger sibs learn to nurture by mentoring little ones; little sibs learn about wisdom by heeding older ones.

Our brothers and sisters are with us for the whole journey

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Sibling traits hold true across hundreds of species human sibling relationships are deeply rooted into the evolutionary chain

The sibling relationship can't be replicated siblings know you when you are in your most inchoate form to have siblings and not make the most of that resource is squandering one of the greatest interpersonal resources you’ll ever have

siblings help us lay down the base of our interpersonal skills you learn conflict-resolution skills in the playroom you learn a lot about how to deal with combative sibling or a physically intimidating you develop nurturing and empathic skills

Men with sisters are better at talking to girls There’s a greater degree of sensitivity and listening skills

Oldest children do get an IQ and linguistic advantage There is a lot of parental focus on the older child, even if they’re not aware they’re doing it

Middle children really do get the shaft in terms of parental attention

youngest kids are the smartest tend to develop a greater ability to use low-power strategies

After about 6 years, your step siblings can become as close as biological siblings. Until then, its all about competition can get explosions of the traditional birth-order sequence, which can be educational

Property is the biggest conflict among siblings

Conflicts with parents can make sibling relationships stronger siblings look to each other and find ways to pull together, because the last thing you can afford to see fractured at that point is the unit among yourselves

The death of a parent brings siblings closer together and reinforces their roles older siblings will quickly jump into that breach to become caretakers and gentle disciplinarians

Parents, don't treat your children equally because they’re very different people and they have different needs Parents have to be aware that it is critical for kids to find their niche in the family as the smart one, the pretty one, the funny one or the athlete.

But don't worry if you have no siblings, you get exposure to the adult world before those with siblings the advantages is that the conversations you hear and participate in, the TV shows you watch, and the vacations you go on tend to skew older

References:

1. http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-sibling-effect-what-the-bonds-among-brothers-and-sisters-reveal-about-us/0009149 - The Sibling Effect: What the Bonds Among Brothers and Sisters Reveal About Us Reviewed By Jeffrey Kluger by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S.
2. http://www.businessinsider.com/sibling-effect-jeffrey-kluger-2011-9?IR=T& - THE SIBLING EFFECT: 12 Amazing Facts About Brothers And Sisters, Linette Lopez, Sep. 14, 2011