Eighty-two percent of people in the U.S have a sibling, per University of New Mexico Health and Health Sciences. Eighteen percent of people are missing out. Having a sibling is one of the best things in life.
While some people believe that having no siblings is better because you don’t have to share with anyone, there are many reasons as to why it’s better to have siblings, and having five siblings has taught me this.
First, having a sibling means that one is never lonely, and there’s always someone there to spend time with and talk to. According to the University of New Mexico Health and Health Sciences, people are more willing to confide in their siblings about things such as abuse, drug use and self-harm. In addition, one is able to bond and spend time with their siblings by doing things such as watching TV and playing sports and video games together. My older brother and I both like basketball, and I’ve spent many hours talking with him outside while playing basketball.
In addition, having a sibling teaches good life skills. Many jobs require the ability to work well in a team setting which involves important life skills such as tolerance, conflict resolution and leadership;having a sibling teaches a person all these skills, per Steadfast Academy. In second grade, my brothers and I got an Xbox for Christmas, and sharing it with them taught me that essential life skill.
Lastly, living with a sibling from an early age typically motivates an individual toward completing their goals since a sibling instills a competitive aspect into one’s life, per Dancing Through the Rain. In addition, being able to compete for a spot or job is crucial to success, and having a sibling helps by teaching one how to stand out and make an impact, per Momentous Institute. As an older sibling, I got to do more things than my younger brother and sisters, which led to me getting more attention. My sisters then competed for attention, and when seeing this, it made me realize that competing for attention is very vital to success.
For every additional sibling, a parent’s odds of divorce drop and risk of obesity drops as well, per Dancing Through the Rain and the National Library of Medicine. Having a sibling can be complicated, but it is important to remember to be grateful, because a sibling is the greatest gift parents can give.
