Are siblings really all that bad?
The surprising truth about your brothers and sisters.
By Missy Prince
Imagine you let your younger sister wear your favorite white sweater because she has an orchestra concert and has nothing white to wear. She refused to change before dinner because she was “starving” and got tomato sauce on it. You stomp up to your room, furious. You wish you were an only child. But do you really? No. You don’t. Research shows that having siblings can actually be very beneficial for kids.
They Keep You Healthy
Did you know having brothers and sisters is healthy for kids, mentally and physically? Having a sibling while growing up can help prevent allergies, obesity, and depression in children. It also teaches kids how to share. Those who grow up as youngest kids may be funnier and more adventurous and those who are the oldest may naturally grow to be more responsible. The benefits of having a brother or sister don’t end or fade as you grow up — they may even strengthen. Research shows that a close bond with a sibling during your middle and old age is associated with having positive mood and being healthy overall. A supportive relationship with a sibling also eased loneliness later in life.
The Learning Experience
Whether they’re older or younger all siblings can teach you something. Speaking from experience I have learned so much from all of my siblings. They’ve helped me so much in many fields, like things from school work to how to correctly punt a soccer ball. Older siblings can probably give wiser advice, but younger siblings can teach you just as much. Research suggests that kids learn just as much from their siblings as they do from their parents. It does not matter if the siblings are similar in age or spaced years apart, or different gender. Kids learn much of the informal ways of life (like how to act ‘cool’ around friends) from their brothers and sisters. Having a younger sibling can also improve your IQ. According to livescience, a study in 2007 found that older siblings usually have a higher IQ than their younger brother or sister. This is because they get the most attention in the home being the first child and can pick up a number of different cues from parents, the study found. Learning from the older siblings mistakes is one of the main benefits of being the youngest. Watching your brother or sister mess up can help you learn what not to do. Youngest siblings seem to do everything right since we can see what our older siblings have done wrong. We really couldn’t help it that the older kids didn’t have an example of what not to do.
Just The Fun Of It
Aside from all of that, having siblings is overall a fun experience. It’s very important for kids to spend time playing and having fun. It’s true that fun-loving, optimistic people live longer. Playing also helps kids build confidence, feel loved happy and safe, develop social skills language and communication, learn about caring for others and the environment, and develop physical skills. Having someone else home to play with encourages kids to play. Another benefit of kids having a sibling to play and have fun with is, it takes away from time kids would spend watching TV or playing video games. Play allows children to use their creativity while improving their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them.
So next time your sister gets sauce on your sweater, cut them some slack. They’re actually helping you a whole lot.