Is my only child missing out?

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Research suggests that only children don't miss out. An American analysis of 500 families showed that only children had similar personalities and social behaviour to children who had brothers and sisters. They were the same when it came to leadership, maturity, emotional stability, generosity and social participation. Interestingly, no studies seem to suggest that only children miss out, this seems to be a concern that parents of only children have, rather than a statistical fact.

Only children are verbally articulate at a younger age probably because they've had more one-to-one time with their parents. They are also financial advantages for the child and parents (new research from Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society reveals it costs £140,398 to feed, clothe and school children from birth to 21). And for parents, there's more time to carry on with adult life and career.
Ann Laybourn, author of The Only Child: Myths And Reality

By Ann Laybourn

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brenda, 10 months

if you choose to have an only child,trust me your child will resent your decision and as they grow older the resentment will deepen, as will their guilt for feeling it!!!! Do all of you a favour and have at least 2.

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marlene, about 1 year

i have a seven year old only child who is a wonderfull kind sharing little boy i dont feel he has missed out on any thing as my brother and sister have lots of children,he is top of his class at school i think that is because my husband and i spent a lot of time with him before he went to school,it has definatly given him an advantage he is a very sociable child with lots of freinds he doesnt seem to of missed out at all. If i ask him if he would like a brother or sister he says he is just happy with just me his dad and two dogs

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Kimberly, about 1 year

I am an only child myself and although I definately don't feel I missed out on attention, achedemicly, on my mother or fathers love or on possessions during my child-hood. However I have never wanted an only child, I love the idea of a large family. I didn't enjoy it when all my other friends and family had their sisters and brothers and large family occasions. I consequently adopted my godmother as my second mother and her children became more like brother and sister for me and I considered them all my extended family. My partner and I are trying for our second child. Our Daughter, Lara, is 2 and a half I have been worried about leaving a large age gap. Although life may not be easy to 'plan out' I have always known other only children to want a considerably larger family than the one they grew up in!

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