It's not that parents inherently like the youngest child more, but rather, a perceived favoritism can stem from factors related to birth order and parental experience.
Here's why:
Parents often seem to favor the youngest child due to the social and emotional skills associated with birth order, coupled with the increased experience parents gain over time. As parents raise more children, they refine their child-rearing approaches, leading them to better understand how they want to shape their child's upbringing and which values are most important to instill. This often results in parents feeling more confident and relaxed with their youngest, potentially creating an impression of favoritism.
In essence, perceived favoritism towards the youngest child is related to two main factors:
- Parental Experience: Parents gain more practice and confidence with each child.
- Birth Order Dynamics: Social and emotional skills evolve differently with each child's place in the family.
