The Problems of the One-Child Family



The British Office for National Statistics reports that one-child families are on the rise: 50% more women now have only one child compared with their mothers’ generation. As a result, children today will likely grow up with fewer siblings than any previous generation, and this shift may significantly alter the temperament of future British society. We see the same trend in America.

This trend is an important factor in the current decline in birth rates but it could also have far-reaching social consequences.

Sibling relationships are often the longest and among the most influential in a person’s life. Historically, families produced a balance of firstborns, middle children and youngest children; today, however, modern demographics are dramatically reducing the number of middle children or even second children. In fact, right now 17% of American women aren’t having any children at all.

If you are a believer in the impact of birth order this is a big deal. I would strongly encourage young couples to have two or more children. Both for the impact on the birth dearth and the kinds of people we are producing for the future.