When we think about starting a family many times we want to have children. Many couples today prefer to only have one, since it requires time and money that we do not always have available . But thinking about the well-being of our little one, we must take into account the advantages and disadvantages of having an only child.
Advantages of having an only child
Having only one child in our family guarantees that all the time we have available we can dedicate exclusively to him. In addition, he will not have to share his toys or his parents, so he will not have this type of fights at home . By not having siblings with whom to share their experiences, they will surely trust parents more and the connection between parents and child is greater.
He will not be jealous or share his toys
There will be no jealousy or comparisons between siblings, something that will be very positive for their self-esteem, because they will come to love and accept themselves as an individual, without having to think that they are inferior to their siblings . The loneliness of the only child in your home may make you more sociable and eager to have real friends, since you will need to have that connection with someone, as siblings would.
Disadvantages of having an only child
Having siblings is very positive, since it helps children learn to share, to lose and that they will not always have everything they want. The only child, being the only child in the house, may feel a lot of loneliness. Parents can keep him company and listen to him when he needs it, but having a sibling of a similar age to yours or in the same situation will help our children significantly .
In most cases the only child is used to having things easily, he does not have to fight for them or make a great effort. He is the only child in the house and the parents will involuntarily overwhelm him with their displays of affection, which will make the child believe that everyone should treat him well in this life and that things are easy to achieve. Although this is a generalization and does not happen like that in all cases, if we decide to have only one child in our family, it is important that we do not pamper him excessively .
He will need more attention from his parents but will be more sociable
If he is an only child of separated parents, he may feel very lonely, so it is best that we spend free time with him or with other family members so that he always feels accompanied and loved .
Spending time with your cousins or friends will help you understand the value of friendship, sharing and not being the center of attention in your home. We named as an advantage the need to socialize so as not to feel alone, but that does not always happen with all children, some will be jealous of this loneliness. If this happens as parents, we should encourage our child to share his adventures and emotions, because even if he is the only child in the family, it does not mean that he should be alone .
Another disadvantage is that the child will require more attention from the parents, since they will not have a sibling with whom to play in their spare time at home. Nor will you be able to share with him the duties or experiences you live during your youth, because even if you trust the parents, the age will be very different and they will not be able to understand you in the same way . The fact of not having siblings also means that our son will not have brothers-in-law nor can he ever be an uncle, so the family becomes smaller and smaller and he will also lose the possibility of living such positive experiences and family relationships.
Finally, you must take into account all the advantages and disadvantages of having only one child and see if that is what best suits your situation or what you think will make your little one happier throughout his life .