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It is Perfectly Fine to Have Just One Child

Making The Choice To Have Only One Child Is Not A Bad Thing
Many people believe that having an only child isn't fair to the child; that the child will grow up an adult who is dysfunctional in some way. There are a bunch of negative stereotypes that people believe about only children such as the child will be spoiled, selfish, lonely, dependent, nerdy, wimpy and more. But in my opinion, these stereotypes simply aren't true. It doesn't take someone who is an only child to be any of those things and actually, there are many advantages to having only one child for both the parents and the child.
I Am An Only Child
Growing up and living as the only child, I know firsthand how it is to be an only child. I have heard people say time and again that they wouldn't want to do "that" to their child. What does "that" mean? That they would be able to give that one child much more than they could give multiple children, emotionally, physically and financially. That they could focus more attention on the one child rather than having to divide the focus between multiple children. That they could sit down and help that one child with homework rather than having to help multiple children. That they could afford to help the child with a car, with college, and more? The list goes on.
It isn't wrong to have just one child. Having only one child does not constitute doing something bad to the child, at least in my opinion. Growing up as an only child isn't a negative thing like some people believe. I can say for 100 percent certainty that having only one child will not cause a child to turn out dysfunctional, self-absorbed, selfish, or otherwise. Those things are seen in people with siblings and without and they're generally caused by poor parenting skills, environment, and other things, not the amount of siblings a person has or doesn't have. Not having siblings doesn't cause a child to grow up to be dependent, spoiled, or generally messed up.
Don't feel like you're doing something wrong by only having one child. It turns out, at least I believe, that it's actually a good thing in some respects.
Children don't even really notice the difference because it's always been that way. And by the time they do, they will be old enough to understand the reasons you chose to have only one child.
To me, being an only child was good. I mean, it was normal. One thing I want to say is that being an only child does not make a person lonely. I was not lonely. I mean, if I was, I don't think it has had any negative effects on me. In fact, I didn't even really realize the difference until I got older. And, then once I was of a certain age, I was glad to be an only child. For a lot of reasons.
Growing up as an only child probably was not much different than growing up with siblings. Except, there were no siblings. But, I got blamed for things that I didn't do, I had sibling rivalry with my two cousins sometimes during the summer, I had chores at home, sometimes I got in trouble, normal things. Don't think by having an only child that the child is doomed to a life of loneliness or anything else. I promise, it's not a bad thing. That's my opinion.
Now, I have four kids of my own and sometimes I wonder what I was thinking. But please don't get me wrong, I love them, don't get me wrong. Oh, there is one disadvantage to being an only child, I can see, at least for me, is that I require daily quiet time and I need to have alone time sometimes. I feel like my house is so noisy and messy all the time. Growing up, it was the total opposite.

Having Only One Child Is Becoming More Common
These days, the average family size is getting smaller and smaller and having one child is much more common than it once was. Since the 1960s, the number of families with only one child has doubled -- nearly 20 percent of families have just one child. This is mainly due to the economy, but also due to the fact that people don't believe the stereotypes from the past about only children. Other factors include a higher divorce rate, an increase in infertility, couples are waiting longer to have children, worry about the future and the environment, and more.

Only Children Make Friends Just As Easily As Children With Siblings
People often feel that only children are shy or withdrawn and therefore they don't make friends as easily as children with siblings. However, several studies have shown that only children make friends just as easily as kids with siblings and they have just as many friends. They are just as active socially as other children and join just as many clubs and organizations.
Disadvantages Of Having Only One Child
I figured since I included the advantages, I should probably include the disadvantages too. There are a few less disadvantages, they are:
From personal experience, here are some disadvantages to having an only child:
- Sometimes the child gets bored.
- They often want friends to go on family trips.
- The child may ask the parents to adopt or have another baby.
- Jealousy toward stepparent relationships.
- Expects to keep mom all to themselves.
- Can feel like an outsider when around friends that have a lot of siblings.
- Unfamiliar with sibling relationships.
- People always ask when there's going to be another child.
- People ask questions like "Why you would want to 'do that' to your child?".
- The child sometimes acts older than their age. (Disadvantage?)
- People without siblings are less familiar with conflict.
Advantages To Having One Child
There are several advantages to having only one child. Such as:
- You can focus all of your energy on just one instead of spreading it between children.
- Sending one child to college is much cheaper.
- There's less worry having only one child driving rather than multiple children.
- There are studies that prove only children are better students.
- Only children have higher levels of intelligence.
- Only children are more mature.
- Only children are more helpful and obedient.
- Only children are good at keeping themselves occupied.
- Only children love to read books.
- Childcare costs less when you're only paying for one child.
- Private school is affordable for just one child.
- Only children have a much better bond with their parents.
Books On Raising Only Children
Only Child Links
- Only Child Syndrome a Myth : Discovery News
Despite common beliefs that only children may grow up maladjusted, new research finds they're just fine. - Only-Child Myths Persist As More Parents Choose One Kid - TIME
Only children are supposed to be spoiled, selfish and lonely. In fact they're just fine and on the rise, as more parents choose against having multiple children - 10 Tips for Parenting Only Children: Using Birth Order as a Parenting Tool
How to handle your overly mature, diligent, conscientious, perfectionist only child.
Conclusion
One thing scary to me now is being an only child and watching my parents grow old and knowing it's just me that has to worry about it. But, they don't live too far away from me so I will do whatever it takes. Luckily my oldest son is 19, so he can hopefully help too when the time comes.
Thanks for reading my hub and I hope you have a great day or night.
Questions, Comments, Suggestions? Want To Say Hi?
Hi! I just came across this post, and thought it was great - my husband and I are starting a blog on where or not we're going to have an 'only' and I'd love to reference this - I like that you're an only who decided to have four of your own(!!) and the perspective you take.
Hi Erin,
You do have a point here. But I have heard a friend say that her child mentions that she would have been better off with a sibling to play/fight with, the idea having got into her head from her friends' experiences at home.
I do however agree with you that only children are no different from children with siblings in their manners and attitude. Nice hub. I am sharing it with my followers on HP for more people to be enlightened by it. Cheers, Rema.
My 'only' child is popular, responsible, generous towards others, and loved by all. I have often received compliments for the wonderful person she is. In fact, I quite envy her... I wish I could be like that! :)
We are raising an only child. Thanks for allaying my fears. Danny is 3.5 and we are trying to supplement the lack of siblings with many hours at the daycare center having fun with other children.
HI, I really enjoyed your hub, although I don't have any first hand experience being an only child, I think good parenting is good parenting. Regardless of the number of children.
I am an only child. Thank you for writing this. We onlies need to educated the sibling population that we are just as good as them. Most people have negative perceptions of only children as spoiled, lonely, and other pejorative stereotypes. Well, we are not! We are happy. We are healthy. We are interactive with others. Great hub which should be required reading for all! God does answer prayer!
People often blame children, one or more on their own failures. We as parents forgot we are the ones choosing to breed these humans into a complex world. We must remember healthy children(unless predisposed to ill genes or disease) generally are apt to be healthy adults if the parents simply allow them to "be" without putting on them EXTRA-ordinary measures. Care, love and a good foundation build a generally healthy child.
You're welcome to read/rate my hubs as well:)
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