Brain Wave

Here’s an insight into what makes your brood tick: the order they’re born affects their personalities.

Only Child

The lack of competition makes boys self-sufficient but perhaps self-centred. Girls can absorb father’s masculine expectations, becoming competitive, keen to please authority figures but not natural mothers.

Eldest

They like to give orders. Girls can be perfectionist but, with mixed siblings, adopt a mothering role. Boys with no sisters can lack feminine social skills and be shy with women.

Youngest

They find it hard to adopt the role of parent. Boys may have feminine traits and, with mixed siblings, lack ambition or interest in detail. Girls can seem independent but need guidance and can be very feminine but spoilt.

Middle child

They tend to have wide interests and be popular with the opposite sex, but competition for attention can give boys a sense of inferiority and make girls seem demanding.

Reader’s Digest - January 2006