Birth Order

Birth OrderMs. Jennifer Lockler

Mrs. Lisa McGirt

Did you know… Before your baby took their first breath, he/she

had pre-existing personality traits due to their birth

order.

Children are the future of the world, and by understanding what

influences their personalities, we have

a better chance of making the future

amazing.

Birth Order and How it Affects Children’s Behavior and Personality

Experts through extensive research have come to the conclusion that birth order affects how a child perceives oneself.

The following facts do not apply to all children in every family. However, typical characteristics can be identified based on the order of your child’s birth.

Only Child Pampered and spoiled. Feels incompetent because

adults are more capable. Is center of attention; often

enjoys position. May feel special.

Self-centered. Relies on service from others

rather than own efforts. Feels unfairly treated when

doesn’t get own way. May refuse to cooperate. Plays “divide and conquer”

to get own way. Famous only children include:

Nancy Reagan, Chelsea Clinton, Carol Burnett, and Ted Koppel

Category Strengths WeaknessesTraits Trust their own opinion,

prompt, ambitious, enterprising, energetic, set goals, good problem solvers, and ambitious.

Self-Centered, fearful of trying new things, criticize themselves and others, worry too much, feel they are always right, inflexible, and too busy to see the big picture.

Career Choose careers similar to those of first born children such as: law, medicine, and architecture. Like black and white concepts and often prefer to work alone or be the boss, which accounts for their success.

Do not like to be told what to do, often stray from team work situations, or take too much of the responsibility. May not respond well to criticisms, and therefore may not improve on areas that are flawed.

First Child

Fun Facts: Famous first born children:

Walter Conkrite, Dan Rather, Oprah Winfrey, Rush Limbaugh and Arsenio Hall

More than 1/2 of the U.S. Presidents were first born children

21 of the 23 first astronauts were first born children

2/3 of entrepreneurs are first born children

Is only child for a period of time; used to being center of attention.

Believes must gain and hold superiority over other children.

Being right, controlling often important.

May respond to birth of second child by feeling unloved and neglected.

Strives to keep or regain parents’ attention through conformity. If this failed, chooses to misbehave.

May develop competent, responsible behavior or become very discouraged.

Sometime strives to protect and help others.

Strives to please. More likely to go to college than

children in any other position in the family.

For many first born children, success is imperative.

Category Strengths Weaknesses

Traits Greater level of confidence, taken seriously, patient, organized, strong powers of concentration, confidence to dream and plan, feel supported, and feel they will be respected for what they do.

Have an innate fear of being dethroned, perfectionists, overachievers, feel as though they are never good enough, tend to be selfish with possesions and attention.

Career Often choose careers that require a high degree of precision such as: law, medicine, computer programming, or architecture, no gray area in work field, in control, often the boss or owner of company.

Do not like to be told what to do, have a hard time with creative projects, do not work well with no direction, do not gravitate towards jobs such as: sales, advertising, art, or music, as there is no structure, or stability in these careers.

Twins Common Leader Traits

Resemble first borns Aggressive

Loud Outspoken

Opinionated Intolerant

Common Follower Traits Resemble shy middle child

Shy Loner Quiet

Blend into the background Undefiant Twins are often viewed as a set, instead of as

individuals.

Category Advantages Disadvantages

Traits Have a constant companion, someone who understands you, have a connection with someone, confident, multi-taskers, driven, want to stand out.

Identity crisis, may not feel unique, hid behind twin's shadow or shadowed over twin, not a lot of privacy, feel invaded.

Career Twice the connections, twice the references, someone to bounce ideas off of, two minds instead of one, often choose careers different than their twin, want to be an individual, feel they need to stand out therefore they go above and beyond.

May be lost without twin, may not take well to being alone, if the leader of the two, he/she may try to overshadow others as he/she did with their twin, if the follower of the two, he/she may look for another person to be their "mother hen".

Second Child Never has parents’ undivided attention. Always has sibling ahead who’s more advanced. Act as if in race, trying to catch up or overtake

first child. If first child is “good”, second may become “bad.” Develops abilities first child doesn’t exhibit. If first child is successful, may feel uncertain of self and abilities.

May be rebel. Often doesn’t like position. Feels “squeezed” if third child is born. May push down other siblings.

Middle Child of Three Has neither rights of oldest nor

privileges of youngest. Feels like is unfair. Feels unloved, left out,

“squeezed.” Feels doesn’t have place in

family. Becomes discouraged and

“problem child” or elevates self by pushing down other siblings.

Is adaptable. Learns to deal with both oldest

and youngest sibling. Famous middle born children:

Donald Trump, Ted Kennedy, Tim Allen, Julia Roberts, and Rosie O'Donnell

Middle born children, are usually the children with the most friends, and get along best with

others

Category Strengths Weaknesses

Traits Peacmakers, mediators, able to keep secrets, not spoiled, take risks, are realistic, get along well with others, read people well, independent, loyal to supporters, competitive, and imaginative.

Hates confrontation, stubborn, cynical, suspicious, and rebellious.

Career Choose careers that allow them to be creative such as: sales, art, advertising, or a career that requires negotiating, well suited for management because of level headedness, and the ability to be unbiased.

Do not do well with a heirarchy system, don't like strict rules, prefer to work at their own pace, and therefore may not complete tasks on time, do not work well with details, do not work well with cut and dry material, prefer to make things more creative than needed.

Youngest Child Behaves like only child. Feels everyone is bigger and

more capable. Expects others to do things, make

decision, take responsibility. Feels smallest and weakest. May

not be taken seriously. Becomes boss of family in getting

service and own way. Develops feelings of inferiority or

becomes “speeder” and overtakes older siblings.

Remains “The Baby.” Places others in service.

If youngest of three, often allies with oldest child against middle child.

Famous last born children: Howard Stern, Jay Leno, Ralph Nadar, Bill Gates, and Danny DeVito

Last born children are quite often the life of the party.

Category Strengths Weaknesses

Traits Outgoing, sociable, affectionate, caring, creative, empathetic, and confident.

Spoiled, manipulative, immature, self-centered, and capricious.

Career Careers in sales, or invention corporations work well because of their ability to sell things, including themselves, work well alone, want to be the boss, and just do their own thing at their own pace.

Do not like to be tied down to committment, can be perceived as "cut throat", try too hard at times, alternative routes in life may make them the odd man out.