Modern families tend to differ a lot from those our grandparents or parents were raised in. While people who are now elders most of the time grew up surronded by multiple siblings, younger marriages often decide to have only one child or even remain childless. Such decision shapes not only the parents' life, but also the child's, if they decide to have one, as the enviroment a person grows up in can affect their behaviour and well-being. Being an only child has advantages as well as
disadvantages, both while growing up and in adult life.
To begin with, since the parents of an only child do not need to divide their attention between numerous children, they can provide their offspring with extra care. The parents might pay strict attention to the grades and achievments, and in case of the child having problems with a given subject, find a more judicious way to help them. Yet, the effort is not limitied only to performance at school. When there is no need to provide for other minors, the child can be given more toys and treats,
or gadgets of better quality.
Secondly, an only child - even thought they might possess a lot - does not have to share their belongings with brothers and sisters. Children tend to grow attached to their favourite toys and be reluctant to let others play with them. If they are the only ones to use their dolls or toy-cars, they do not experience jealously or fear of the things being lost or broken by someone else. Not having to share their possessions with siblings is even more crucial for teenagers. During teenagehood, one
values their personal space and individuality, and might perceive constant presence of other teenagers or younger children as tiring and intrusive.
However, if there are no children of similiar age in the neighbourhood, and contact with cousins (in case of there being any) is not regular, only children might find making friends with people their age and maintaining existing friendships difficult. As daily contact with other minors does not start until kindergarden or middle school, they develop certain social skills later than those who grew up with brothers and sisters. Moreover, in such case, being suddenly exposed to school environment
might be distressing, which can lead to fear of participating in classes and refusing to attend school.
In addition, being an only child can deprive a person of close bonds and cause the feeling of isolation. If the parents or friends are not present for a longer time, the child can develop a sense of loneliness, which can be harmful to their evolving personality and might negatively affect skills that have yet to emerge. Later in life, if the parents are no longer alive or not able to see the child on a regular basis, and the person has no family of their own, they might be left with no close
relatives they could trust or rely on in case of emergency. They can also be affected by lack of social interactions, just like children, and suffer from detrimental consequences which might vary from occasional sadness to depressive thoughts and lacking the sense of purpose.
Taking everything into account, remaining an only child provides the person with both positive and negative consequences that affect their entire lifetime. While a child can experience more attention from their parents and do not need to be concerned about privacy, an adult without a sibling will likely be afflicted with loneliness and might lack a reliable companion.
