First-Born Children Better Equipped to Lead.

(PRWEB) September 9, 2003

For Immediate Release

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Michael R. Drew

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Santa Ana, California (PRWEB) September 8, 2003 - First-born children are, according to behavioral psychologist, Thomas K. Connellan, PhD., more likely to succeed. It isn’t genetics, though. It is the way the parents of first-born treat these children that sparks their success.

It has long been known that first-borns are different. Twenty-one of the first twenty-three astronauts were first-born. Two-thirds of the “Who’s Who” list are first-born. As are fifty-five percent of Supreme Court Justices. All this, even though first-borns represent only thirty-five percent of all children.

In Bringing Out the Best in Others! 3 Keys for Business Leaders, Educators, Coaches, and Parents (Bard Press, Feb. 2003), Connellan says it’s the parenting that’s the key, not the kids. Connellan points to three factors common to first-born parenting usually absent in the upbringing of subsequent children: expectations, accountability and feedback.

There are higher expectations for the firstborn, Connellan points out. It is assumed they will win the spelling bee, be elected senior class president, and get into their first-choice college.

Firstborns are given more responsibility – money to let siblings into the movies or buy ice cream, expensive equipment and gear to take care of. They got more feedback - more photos taken, frequent parental attendance at extracurricular activities, and more homework help.

“What’s heartening,” says Connellan, “is the fact that we can not only identify these keys of first-born parenting, we can put them into practice. Anyone can.”

Connellan contends that because these factors are environmental, school children, teachers, and business leaders can all benefit from their study and implementation.

Thomas K. Connellan, PhD., is a New York Times best-selling author, former Program Director and Research Associate on the University of Michigan Business School faculty and an advisor to Dell, Marriott, the Air Force Academy, GE, Sony, and Neiman Marcus.

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