Middle Child Syndrome - Fact Or Fiction
Considering Alfred Adler’s concept of birth order, how does this work within your family? Can you see your children taking on these birth order roles? What’s the family atmosphere in your home? Can you see your child or children working towards Adler’s concept of healthy social interest? Most importantly, does the birth order of your children - from the oldest to the youngest toddler - seem to make a difference in how your child’s character develops?
When you consider the birth order of your children, keep in mind that several extraneous factors influence the children’s behavior; the age differences of the children, handicaps or disabilities with any child, and the gender of the children. Adler never meant for birth order characteristics to be written in stone; there are always outside factors that will make a difference in their birth order behaviour.
Adler’s theories on birth order can offer valuable insight when it comes to understanding the behavior of your own children. Of course, birth order won’t account for every behavior, as there are so many other factors involved in personality. However, birth order is another tool to help you comprehend what shapes your children for better or worse.
