Why birth order can shape a kid's future and what parents can do about it - The Washington Post
Why birth order leaves an indelible mark has long eluded scientists. Now we have some answers that suggest what parents and policymakers can do about it. Younger siblings enjoy real advantages in life. They are born to parents who are generally wealthier and more experienced than when the firstborn arrived. Older siblings can serve as role models, mentors and productive rivals. The ranks of elite athletes are filled with many more younger siblings than older brothers and sisters. “There are a lot of reasons why second-borns should do better,” said Joe Price, an economics professor at Utah’s Brigham Young University, whose own second-born son is ranked second in the state at his grade level after years competing with his older brother in chess. But being born first is a far better bet in life, the data shows. A landmark 2005 study found that younger siblings fare worse than firstborns on lifetime earnings, educational achievement, mental health and, for women, teen pregnancy. The later