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Randall Jeppesen and AP reporting A new study out of Brigham Young University says parents heavily favor their firstborn children with attention.
The study, based on data from the American Time Use Survey, says eldest children enjoy 20 to 30 minutes of attention more per day from parents than their siblings. Between the ages of 4 and 13, that difference adds up to about 3,000 extra hours. The study's findings follow recent reports that firstborn children make more money, have more education and score higher on IQ tests than others.
BYU economics professor Joe Price says the extra time is a product of families having more overall time to share when their kids are young and parents getting lazy as the years go by.
"When our oldest was 3, I was, like, following him around with books, and, you know, by the third child I read when it was convenient," Price said.
Price's younger brother refutes his findings.
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Information from: Deseret Morning News
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
