Middle children get a bad rap. But not anymore.
Being a middle child, I have to say, I agree with all of the below.
Normally, middle children aren’t favoured when it comes to birth order facts. For example, names like middle-child-syndrome get dropped.
But recent research has shown that being the middle child is quite beneficial. In fact, everyone could only wish they were a middle child (totally something a middle child would say, right?).
So if you are a middle child, or you have 3 kids and trying to figure out what makes your middle child tick, here are some facts from the experts:
Middle children are naturally successful. Researchers don't know whether this is because they want to one-up their siblings, or because they crave the attention that comes with success. But either way, they are - and 52% of US presidents were middle-children.
Middle children have the freedom to become who they want says Dr. Catherine Salmon and Katrin Schumann of The Secret Power of Middle Children. While all the focus of the parents are on the first child (and lots and lots of pressure is applied to them to succeed), and everyone is worried about the youngest - the middle child gets to grow and discover themselves.
They are extremely innovative. All that independence, says Dr Salmon and Schumann, gives them room to be creative and innovation. Even from the time they were really young - while the eldest had mummy and daddy playing with them, and the youngest was given whatever kept them quiet, the middle child had to create their own play time.
