| Many experts have studied the placement of | | | | accomplishments of the middle child and make |
| children in the birth order of the family unit and | | | | sure that praise is given where it is deserved. You |
| have discovered that each group displays certain | | | | should also try not to compare your children with |
| traits and characteristics. Oldest children tend to | | | | each other. Holding one child apart as the role |
| be born leaders while younger children tend to be | | | | model can be detrimental to the development of |
| affectionate and creative. Middle children | | | | self esteem in the others. |
| characteristics are a little harder to pinpoint as | | | | You also need to encourage your children to work |
| these youngsters usually stand apart from the | | | | out their disagreements on their own. The middle |
| other children. | | | | child may become too dependent on you to fix |
| Growing up as a middle child can make the | | | | his problems. Children can learn good negotiating |
| youngster feel like they go unnoticed by his | | | | and diplomacy skills from solving their problems |
| parents. The oldest children are held in high | | | | between each other on their own. |
| esteem due to their accomplishments while the | | | | You may need to spend some extra quality time |
| youngest are coddled and babied. The middle child | | | | with your middle child. Oldest and youngest |
| may feel as if he has to struggle just to get | | | | children seem to need your attention more than |
| noticed. Parents tend to expect more from their | | | | the middle child does, which is oftentimes |
| youngest and oldest children as it may be difficult | | | | misleading. The middle child may not seem to |
| for them to define their expectations for the | | | | want your attention due to the fact that many |
| middle child. In most cases, parents may have | | | | middle children are often more emotionally |
| taken pictures and documented every "first" that | | | | withdrawn and distant from the rest of the family |
| their oldest child did and may have lightened up | | | | than their siblings. This is an even greater reason |
| these efforts in relationship to the second child. | | | | to spend more time with them. |
| While the parents may have done this as a result | | | | There are some good traits that are exhibited by |
| of being more relaxed about their second | | | | middle children. These children grow up to be |
| experience at parenthood, a middle child may | | | | more independent and are born mediators and |
| view this as solid proof that they mean less to | | | | negotiators. They also tend to "go their own way" |
| their parents than their older sibling. | | | | when dealing with established ideas. They are |
| The middle child may also constantly compare | | | | innovators and thinkers. Some famous middle |
| themselves to the other siblings, especially the | | | | children include J.F.K., Madonna, Donald Trump, |
| older ones. He may seek interests in different | | | | Barbara Walters, and Bill Gates. Each of these |
| areas that will allow them to stand apart from | | | | people is an example of just how successful |
| their elder. This attention-seeking attitude also | | | | middle children can become with a little extra |
| tends to make the middle children the | | | | encouragement from their parents. Each of them |
| "risk-takers," often participating in dangerous | | | | have "gone their own way" and become role |
| sports or choosing careers that have an element | | | | models for others. By supporting your middle child |
| of danger and/or risks involved. | | | | in his tendency to go against the status quo, he |
| Parents can take several steps to ensure that | | | | may grow to be as successful as some of these |
| their middle child evolves into a happy and healthy | | | | middle children have become. The possibilities are |
| adult. They need to focus on the | | | | endless. |