SAUDI ARABIA

Order of birth key factor in shaping children’s personality, says expert

December 09, 2017

Saudi Gazette report

DAMMAM — Behavioral expert Fatima Al-Nimr has explained that the best method for parents to discipline children is balance and moderation.

She pointed to an important factor that plays a prominent role in shaping the child’s personality and character, which is the birth order. The first child often enjoys more power in the family and the middle one tries to compete with the older one to maintain a distinctive personality, Al-Nimr said.

The behavioral expert warned against parental behavior turning into a risk factor in a child’s upbringing. Negative educational influences also figure in shaping a child’s future character, Al-Nimr told Al-Watan newspaper.

She said the birth order of each child in the family greatly influences his or her personality, as the latter child is overly cared for.

“Four aspects determine a family’s success in effectively raising and developing the child,” said Al-Nimr, who is a behavioral modification trainer.

The four crucial aspects to consider here are the extent of the child’s relationship with the parents, the upbringing style the family follows, the type of disciplinary methods adopted by the parents, and the order of the child in the family, she added.

“Parents are a protective factor in their children’s lives, which helps them move psychologically and socially in the right direction. But sometimes they can be a danger factor that reflects negatively on a child’s character,” she said.

“Children depend entirely on parents to meet all their needs, and when satisfied with the basics, they develop a positive relationship in the early years, which paves the way to build a strong base for their future,” said Al-Nimr.

“A child’s order in the family plays a big role in shaping his or her personality. The first child enjoys a great deal of care and attention and is often in a position of authority, while the middle one tries to compete with the first for a privileged position in the family, and the youngest is always showered so much care and attention, sometimes excessive, which often contributes to a dependent and spoiled personality,” she added.

The behavioral expert believes that the more a family’s style of control tends to include positive education with a focus on love and care, the more balanced and safe will be the children in their behavior and attitude. “The family needs to set rules and limits for the children that contribute to their sense of security and stability in life,” she said.


December 09, 2017
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