1. Sibling Rivalry, Relationships & Birth Order

2. SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS
What are siblings?
Brothers and Sisters (Includes Step and Half)
How can a sibling relationship be a positive part of a family?
Role models
Supporters
Members of a “coalition” for dealing with parents :)
Coalition: a temporary union between two opposing teams

3. SIBLING ROLES Playmates and Companions Teachers and Learners
Protectors and dependants
Adversaries
Role Models

4. SIBLING RIVALRY What is Sibling Rivalry?
Competition among children of the same family for their parents’ affections or for dominance is called sibling rivalry. It is extremely common, and it sometimes persists into adult life.
Question: What are some typical things brothers and sisters have problems with or argue about?

5. Younger children typically copy and try to excel in areas in which older children have previously succeeded.
Rivalry may continue into adulthood when siblings compete often over various things.

6. Next to the parent-child relationship, the sibling relationship is probably the strongest.
They have deep sharing of emotions.
Teaching and socializing is often the role of an older brother or sister.
The older sibling is not only a teacher, but caretaker and companion.

7. BIRTH ORDER
The order in which children are born in to a family has an influence on the development of the children.
The stages in the family life cycle are based on the age of the oldest child because everything the firstborn does is new to the parents.

8. Things to Remember About Birth Order:
There are exceptions in every trait
Focus on positive traits of each birth order
Become aware of uniqueness
Use the information to understand yourselves and others
Do not use traits as labels or stereotypes

9. The Oldest Child Is: The parents’ “Guinea Pigs”
Set up as an example to other children
Treated more like an adult by his/her parents.
A high achiever
Given and accepts more responsibility than the other children
Usually college bound
Independent
Affectionate

10. The Oldest Child, cont.: Perfectionists Reliable List-Makers
Well-Organized
Critical
Serious
Goal-Oriented
People-Pleasers
Conservative
Supporters of Law and order
Believes in Authority
Loyal
Self-Reliant

11. The Middle Child: Independent Loyal to peer group Has many friends
May work extra-hard to get recognition
Is usually a peace maker, avoids conflict
Is somewhat average in schoolwork, but is an all-around good student
Is usually a calm, even-tempered adult

12. The Youngest Child:
Gets a lot of attention, along with a lot of bossing
May be spoiled
Usually matures quickly
May be undisciplined and irresponsible
Is easy-going about school
Likes to associate with someone who takes charge of situations

13. The Youngest Child, cont.:
Tends to blame others
Manipulative
Precocious
Class Clowns
Loves the “Spotlight”
Carefree
Hard to take seriously

14. WHAT IS YOUR TEACHER? Can You Guess?
An Oldest Child Teacher:
Creates complicated projects for students to complete
They like structure and order in the classroom.
They are happiest when students are sitting in nicely arrange desks, in a straight line
Students are quiet and do as they are told
The oldest child teacher will be frustrated unless they learn how to achieve organization in a different way

15. A Middle Child Teacher:
Is interested in the psychological well being, as well as the academic achievement, of the student
They seek out the rebellious students in hope of influencing them in a more positive direction
They try to achieve order through mutual respect and understanding

16. A Youngest Child Teacher:
Are more creative, fun loving, adjust well to noise and disorder
Teachers allow students to take
more responsibility so they won’t
have to do everything
themselves