Only children have been stereotyped as spoiled, selfish, and socially inept for over a century. But research shows these beliefs are nonsense. Only children face NO significant personality differences from kids with siblings, except stronger parent-child bonds. What they DO face: concentrated expectations, intense parental focus, and unique developmental considerations that look different for daughters vs sons in ways research has completely ignored. Here's what parents need to know about raising only children, what the science actually shows, and the massive gender research gap no one's talking about.

Brother-brother pairs are most rivalrous, sister-sister most close. Discover how your specific sibling pairing creates invisible dynamics that last into adulthood.

Everyone's talking about eldest daughters—but your oldest son, younger daughter, and youngest son are navigating their own invisible pressures based on birth order and gender. Here's what parents miss about how patriarchy, biology, and family dynamics shape each child differently (and why it matters for their adult relationships, work, and mental health).