Just as much as twins are very alike, sometimes siblings raised in the same home by the same parents can be complete opposites. Birth order has been used to explain and predict these personality differences, hobbies, grades in school, earning potential and much more. But can that be possible, and how can siblings be so different? First of all, birth order - firstborn, middle children, youngest - isn't the be-all, end-all that determines a child's later success in life, but birth order can help you deal with your kids more effectively. Before other children are born, firstborns have parents to themselves, and that often means there's more time to explain things to them and teach them. They're given greater responsibility, especially when other siblings come along, so they tend to grow up holding themselves to a high level of success.
And when they do fail, they tend to take it hard. Teach a firstborn that it's OK when things don't go according to plan by using anecdotes from your past about times when you didn't succeed. Middle children tend to be agreeable kids, due to the fact that they always compromise and negotiate in order to "fit in." Middle children seem to feel that they get lost in the shuffle, so find ways to recognize your middle child and celebrate her successes. The youngest child tends not to be the strongest or smartest kids, so they have to rely on other strengths to get attention. That may include taking risks, showing off or being the class clown. The youngest may manipulate his role as "the baby" to get what he wants - hold youngest kids to the same rules as other siblings.