how come first born tend to be the smartest of the siblings?

Question

i know this rule does not apply to every family. but lately i've spending time with different families and it seems mine included that the first born tend to be smarter and more together than their siblings. any insight on this phenomenon? i'm looking for all posibilities not just common knowledge such as the first born babies get more attention because they are the first and this facilitates more faster growth and learning creating the foundation of their intelligence.
one out of the box idea i had is that generally speaking when a woman has her first baby she is more likely to be physiologically at her peak and when she has her second or third, her body may have hit a threshold and consequently underperform having an affect on the childs DNA. just a thought. i'm just curious to know what everyone else thinks.

Answer 1

Well it is proven (I studied in psychology classes) that children behave in certain ways depending on their birth order. The oldest child tends "to have it more together" because they tend to model the parents. They receive attention before any of the other children are born and thus, typically, are more invested in as far as a parent's time and energy. Thus they replica the parent, and tend to have a better vocabulary (learning how to talk from the parent and not other siblings) and read better because of time spent with the parents. Often, by the time a second, third, and fourth child roll around the parents are not as energetic or play with the children as much because the whole parenting thing is not "new" or as fun as it was in the beginning.

Answer 2

I think possibly your first suggestion is right, the parents do have more time to spend with the first born. They also have more energy and money and of course there is the novelty of having a child. In a family the middle child is the best `all rounder` and often obtains higher qualifications ,they have more confidence and are socially more adept. However, the youngest comes along the fastest, because it has the help of other brothers and sisters as well as it`s parents. The `pecking order` of siblings in a family, is a very interesting subject to study.
I am in England and I studied this as part of a university course.

Answer 3

I think it's that the first born are more driven, responsible, goal oriented and mature- not necessarily the smartest. For example, somebody outside of my family would probably think I am the smartest out of my siblings (I am the oldest) because I have it the most together. But I think my younger brother (the middle child) is the smartest. We are used to having a lot of responsibility and it doesn't scare us to be in charge.

And maybe it's true that they got more attention as babies. I know with my first, I would always talk to him, teach him, read to him, etc... I don't know if I will have the time or energy to do it as much with my second.

I think with subsequent children, parents don't have as many expectations from them, hence less pressure, hence less drive to succeed and be smart.

Answer 4

We quickly become responsible for taking care younger siblings and are forced to think for ourselves and make our own decisions. We are expected to behave maturely at a young age. Parents don't have much time for older children once they have others, and the older ones are left ot work things out for themselves. My sister was born when I was fifteen months old.
There is probably a genetic component as well, maybe we get first pick at the best genes.

Answer 5

My first born is very intelligent compared to my second, or at least was. I now see that my second is learning everything from the first so they are now on the same level. Wouldn't that mean my second is smarter. To be younger but at the same learning level! I really believe it is just because of attention.

Answer 6

Psychologists have studied this and there is still controversy over whether such a "birth order effect" exists at all. Indiana University has a great site that will tell you almost everything there is to know about this issue.

Answer 7

Well my daughter was the first born she is smarter but the boy I have noticed has more common sense than she does....
the daughter is 14 and the boy is 10 and it's funny to see book smarts try to take on common sense...she get mad when he is right alot of times...I keep telling the daughter you have to be smart yes but it's common sense that helps you get thur life...

Answer 8

i just think that with the fist child they pay more attention to him/her and then when the others come along that there really isn't enough time to spend now that there is always more to do so that the second or third don't get the attention they deserve thats all

Answer 9

They experience stuff firsthand, then tell it to the young ones. But you're right it doesn't apply to all families, my little brother is way smarter than I am.

Answer 10

I don't think the firstborn is smarter, maybe harder working though. Most likely it's because the parents push them harder and expect more out of them.