Younger siblings really DO have it easier, study confirms

Researchers from Monash University found later-born children spend less time on enrichment activities and more time on social media than first-borns. The increase in digital media time is driven by activities done alone. The study links this pattern to parents being less likely to set rules for later-born children, including rules around TV watching and video games. Later-born children also perceive fewer expectations to follow rules. Data from about 5,000 children aged 2 to 15 were analyzed using parent-recorded time for younger children and 24-hour child time diaries for those over 10. Activities were grouped into seven categories: sleep, school, enrichment, physical, social, digital media, and general care, with enrichment including homework, reading, music lessons, and board games, and digital media including television, video games, internet use, and social media.

"'The increase in digital media time for later-born children is largely driven by those activities that children do alone,' the study, published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organisation reads."

"'Parents are less likely to have rules around TV watching and video games for later-born children, and later-born children themselves are less likely to perceive that their parents expect them to follow rules.'"

Read at Mail Online