Birth Order & IQ
A study came out a few weeks ago, claiming that firstborn children are smarter than their younger siblings, by an average of 2 to 3 IQ points. One factor, the study’s authors concluded, was that firstborn children (and only children) tend to receive more of their parents’ attention. When siblings come into the equation, the amount of time and attention that is available is divided, and therefore, the less attention each individual child receives. So an eldest child that is an only for awhile has more of an advantage than an eldest child whose younger sibling follows closely. And an only child has the benefit of never having to share the parental attention, or, for that matter, the household resources.
What eldest children have going for them that only children do not, according to the study, is that another factor in the higher IQ is that older siblings tend to help their younger brothers and sisters, and that the act of mentoring the younger children contributes to the older child being smarter. I think that anyone who has ever had to teach a subject can quickly understand why…in order to teach something, be it how to tie a shoe, how to drive mom nuts, how to do long division, or how to fix a broken faucet, you must first internalize that subject better than just enough to get by. This theory isn’t new – go to any good Montessori school, and you will find older children helping younger children with their work. By becoming the mentor, the child reinforces the lessons in their own minds, and thus gains a deeper understanding. By explaining concepts, by demonstrating skills, to the younger students, the lesson is more deeply ingrained into the mentor’s mind.
Reading this study made me glad, for about the millionth time, that we enrolled Maya in a Montessori school when she was very young, and it makes me thankful that she was able to continue her Montessori education as long as she has. Being an only child in a neighborhood with few children, she would have missed out on that multi-age benefit had she been enrolled in a standard school. Do I care whether her IQ is 2 or 3 points higher than it would have otherwise been? No. Can I even prove that her IQ is 2 or 3 points higher than it would have otherwise been? No. But I can witness how much she has blossomed in the Montessori environment, and I can attest to the love of learning that her school fostered within her. She genuinely loves school, loves to read, loves science and history and art and spelling and environmental education. And while she doesn’t LOVE math, she does well at it, and has a fundamental understanding that will serve her well when she goes into Middle School this fall. Some of this is the by product of two parents who love learning, some is the benefit of being an only child, and I’m sure, some of it is because she was fortunate enough to attend top rate schools during her preschool and elementary school years. Any of my readers out there with kids in the toddler years, I would urge you to explore the Montessori schools in your area. Use the link, above, to check for certified schools, since the name is not copy written, and anyone can call their school a Montessori. And if you have the opportunity to continue with the Montessori education beyond the preschool years, I would highly recommend that you give it some serious consideration. I think it’s one of the best things we’ve done for Maya so far.
Props to Maya’s preschool, Springfield Montessori, and her elementary school, which we will sorely miss, Eagle Peak Montessori Charter School.
14 Comments
Py Korry
I’m glad we were able to enroll Maya in those schools!
After seeing the methods used to educate kids at Montessori schools, I wish I had that kind of education when I was growing up. 🙂
Ml
I had heard about the elder sibling thing. I figure it must be true as it was my brother who was smart enough to point out that my head is shaped like a butt.
A good education is so incredibly important! Good for you guys giving Maya a head start.
Gina
Birth order and it’s implications have always interested me.
And I would love to send Mr. P to a Montessori, but they tend to be insanely expensive, much more so than a private Catholic school, which is another option I am considering. All things being equal, I would choose the Montessori, but they aren’t, so boo.
J
Gina, Money is the problem, isn’t it? Dang. We were pretty fortunate, because my Grandma wanted to help us, so she paid for part of Maya’s preschool, which was indeed insanely expensive. Her elementary school was public, though, so ‘free’. I put the ‘free’ in quotes, because they were always doing a crazy amount of fundraising to keep the doors open…charter schools are funded differently than other public schools, and the doors can indeed be shut if the parents don’t come up with enough money to fill the gap between income from the district and the budget. But that’s a whole ‘nother post, isn’t it?
When we were deciding about where to send Maya for preschool, I remember looking at a few others, which were indeed cheaper. They weren’t ENOUGH cheaper to me, to justify not giving her the Montessori experience if we could swing it (Thanks again, Grandma!). That’s partially because I’m VERY biased (went to Montessori for preschool myself, and my mom has her Masters in Montessori education) and partly because as a good athiest, Catholic school wasn’t an option for us, and I do know that they are subsidized by the congrigation, and thus much cheaper than the average school.
Blackbeltmama
The birth order thing? It’s funny you mentioned that today. My husband and I were just talking about this. he has two younger siblings; I have one. We think it’s true. Then again, we’re both first-borns and first borns tend to have ego problems too. 😉
Beenzzz
I don’t know about that. My older brother and I have the identical IQ.
J
BBM, my husband and I are both younger siblings, so we obviously think the study is unfounded. 😉 I mean, he has his PhD, and I have my Masters, so we can’t be TOO stupid, can we?
ML, your brother is indeed a genius for noting that about your head. I’ve seen your head, and never noticed the resemblance to a butt. 🙂
Py, I had the advantage of Montessori, but I wish I had been able to continue it as long as Maya has. I do know that I didn’t learn anything NEW in school until about 4th grade…meaning that I spent 1 – 3 grade relearning stuff I had already learned in preschool/Kindergarten at the Montessori.
Maya's Granny
I wish that all children could go to Montessori school. J and Py — you two are exceptionally smart. And wise.
Cherry
I went to an Elementary school that always had these experimental programs going on.
One of the experimental classes I was in, had a mixed 2nd and 3rd grade class, very Montessori like, and I loved it!
Unfortunately, in 3rd grade I was back in a standard class and that was exactly when I started flailing about in Reading. Who knows why, but the system did not do me well after that. Excelled in reading K through 2 and then crashed hard in 3rd grade, never to fully recover.
Susan Helene Gottfried
Hmm. Guess you missed the middle part of that study, that showed that in the elementary years, younger siblings have HIGHER IQs. It’s only later on that the switch happens.
We chose to use the excellent public schools in our area for the kids. I haven’t regretted it once, despite the dance I’ve been doing all summer with them over #2. But then again, we deliberately chose this area for the schools.
J
Susan, yeah, I saw that part of the study, but I figured it’s how they turn out that matters the most. 🙂
Good school are definately a blessing!
hellomelissa
as the second child, and only girl, i was the only one tested for iq. not quite sure why, but it was pretty high when i was a kid. i’d be scared to see the precipitous plunge it would certainly take now that i’m a parent.
Michelle
I became a Montessori teacher after being a public school teacher and I’ve never looked back. It has made a world of difference in our lives, having both my son and I in a Montessori environment.
As for it being too expensive, many schools offer “scholarships” and the ones that are acredited usually even offer federal finanacial aid packages. Ask the admissions director for help. That’s what they’re there for!
Taylor
I went to a Montessori school from pre-school through seventh grade, and I definitely would say that I’m thankful that my mother chose to put me in those schools.