First-born children are smarter than their siblings, study states
| Updated: Jan 19, 2018, 12:00 IST
Firstborns have been found to have greater cognitive reasoning and a 'mental edge', according to Dr Ana Nuevo-Chiquero, of Edinburgh University’s School of Economics. The study conducted by Edinburgh University found evidence proving the fact that first-born children are smarter than their counterparts. The study, which was conducted over fourteen years with nearly 5,000 children, found that older siblings score higher than their brothers and sisters in IQ tests and the difference is noticeable as early as age one. Researchers have dubbed it ‘The Birth Order Effect’.
The tests involved mental reasoning, literacy development and vocabulary. They also accounted for family background and the families’ finances during the child’s development. It found that first-born children received more support with tasks that developed thinking skills. ‘Child Number One’ came out on top in all cases. As Niles from 'Fraiser' aptly put it, by the time the second-born gets round to anything, ‘It’s all chewed meat’.
Well, won't this study give you just one more reason to fight with your elder sibling? Well, younger ones, we say...relax because you're most definitely the cooler ones!
The tests involved mental reasoning, literacy development and vocabulary. They also accounted for family background and the families’ finances during the child’s development. It found that first-born children received more support with tasks that developed thinking skills. ‘Child Number One’ came out on top in all cases. As Niles from 'Fraiser' aptly put it, by the time the second-born gets round to anything, ‘It’s all chewed meat’.
Well, won't this study give you just one more reason to fight with your elder sibling? Well, younger ones, we say...relax because you're most definitely the cooler ones!