Do you think it is healthy or OK to only have one child? Do you think it effects the way someone is brought up or interacts with people? Do you think it is negative or postive to only have one child?
2006-12-11 13:32:02 · 15 answers · asked by *sexy mocha* 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I have only one child, and do not plan to have any more. It is perfectly fine. As parents, WE are the ones who affect the way our children are brought up and interact with people, siblings or no.
2006-12-11 13:36:30 · answer #1 · answered by LadyJag 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it's perfectly healthy and OK to only have 1 child. Sure, everything we do and every choice we make effects the way we raise our child and the way they interact with people. There are negatives and positives to both having/being an only child, and having/being 2, 3, 4 or even 11 other children. I think it depends on the parents.
If the only child is exposed to lots of other opportunities to interact with other kids and be among his or her peers and is not treated like the sun rises and sets in his or her presence, is taught to share, take turns, respect others, then those are the same things kids with siblings learn but they have those opportunities built in to their family, they don't have to go and seek it out.
I think siblings have a special bond though and think that it's important to have that in life. I only have 1 child presently, but would really like to have another, just because I know the bond I share with my sister and feel like I would be robbing him of the experience of having that bond if I don't have another baby.
2006-12-11 21:39:06 · answer #2 · answered by SaraBMW 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
My wife is an only child, well she has 2 half-siblings, but she didn't get them until she was 10 years old and she never lived with them (her dad's kids).
She believes there are pro's and con's. We are both pretty young and have one son aged about 8 months. We are seriously considering leaving it at him- we love being able to share the responsibility and devote all our attention to him.
I love the one on one interaction i have with my little boy. Financially it will be better for the family to stick with one, of course, but i think you really need to want another child.
Don't have one because you feel the existing child will be lonely, if they have lots of friends and plenty of your time they will never be lonely.
There are pro's and con's. If we did have another it won't be for a good 4 + years and we really are tending towards sticking with him.
Whether you have 1,2 or 10 kids have the right number for you. Some people do not want any, which is fine if that suits them.
The number of only children is increasing and it is much more common these days- 17% in the UK and higher than that in countries like Portugal and Germany.
People seem to be appreciating the advantages of the only child and realising societies stereo-type of 2.4 children is rather dated.
Humans are such a variable species it is impossible to pigeon hole people and suggest the best number of children.
Have however many kids you feel happy with. If someone wants to drag several screaming kids down the street that is great, but it isn't for me or my wife.
2006-12-14 10:16:06 · answer #3 · answered by Acer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an only child - about to have my first baby. Being an only child has pro's and con's. I have to say I did ask my parents if I had any brothers or sisters, but it never was something that I obsessed over. My parents were also able to give me much, much more than I could ever have asked for. They paid for private school, college, a car (nothing fancy, but a car). I still am their "baby" and they are wonderful to me. If I had any siblings, I would not have had that luxury. I consider myself lucky to have had the advantages of growing up as an only child and I wrestle with the decision of whether or not to have 2 of my own.
As for the interaction with people... my parents always spoke to me like a person - not a baby/ child. I always was able to relate to adults and behave properly, while still being a kid. They gave me lots of attention and made me feel special. I can't say that being an only child was ever a bad thing.
Hope this helps!
2006-12-11 21:56:10 · answer #4 · answered by Cara M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Answering as a mother of 4, I think I should have stopped at 1--LOL! In all honesty, however, I was much more attentive, and had so much more time to play with and teach my firstborn...
I think whether or not there is one child or many, the parents are the key to how the child will be as a person--positive or negative.
2006-12-11 21:38:19 · answer #5 · answered by єЖтяα ¢яιѕρψ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I'm an only child, and I never missed not having any siblings. I had lots of cousins and was glad to go home to the peace and quiet of my own room that I did not have to share. Was I spoiled? oh yes that goes without saying, Now I'm in my 60 and I still don't miss having siblings. So for me it was and still is a VERY positive thing.Whats really funny, I had 4 kids.
2006-12-11 21:52:39 · answer #6 · answered by Granny 1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an only child and have an only child. I fell it's OK but you do need to make sure that your child has tons of interaction with other children.
2006-12-11 21:41:52 · answer #7 · answered by atricky123 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no lots of kids are an only child its all on how the parents feel or if they cant have any more kids, i know that all the only children say well i wish i had a bro or sis growing up but you also have the ones who have bros and sisters that say i wish i were an only child, so theres no negitive or positive to this when there the only child they have all your attention but when theres more then one they have each other so it works either way
2006-12-11 21:35:56 · answer #8 · answered by <3 mykiddos,mylife <3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a younger sister and an older brother . we can fight and everything but deep inside we love each other and in some way we can understand among us. But i think it negative to only have one child because of the simple fact its always going to be alone with no one to play or talk to at times and also doesn't get that spoiled and later on in the years its harder to control.
2006-12-11 21:50:54 · answer #9 · answered by Gisselle 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I only have one child. A son who is 5 years old. I am not sure if i will ever have anymore or not. I don't think my son is missing out on having a sibling.
I was one of 7 kids that my parents had and all me and my sisters done was fight. Now that we are grown some don't speak to one another and some can't get along with the others. I am only close to one of my siblings so i think that you should not just have another kid just because you have one and your thinking that they are missing out on something.
That is not a good enough reason to have a baby.
I think it is more than okay to have just one kid.
2006-12-12 03:56:47 · answer #10 · answered by ஐ♥Julian'sMommy♥ஐ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋