Many people assume “if you grew up without siblings that you will inevitably become [a] lonely person throughout your life,” said Toni Falbo, an educational psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin. “And there’s just no evidence that that’s true.”
While only children don’t have siblings to hang out with, they often get to spend more one-on-one time with their parents, she said.
Plus, there are plenty of opportunities for kids to socialize from a young age, such as day care, school, playdates, and extracurricular activities.
While only children may have more alone time than kids with siblings, Newman said, parents don’t need to view this as a negative.
“Alone time is actually healthy,” she explained. “It encourages creativity, and it allows children to learn how to fill their time on their own.”
For example, they may journal, practice a hobby, read, or invent their own stories or games, said Ann-Louise Lockhart, pediatric psychologist, parent coach, and owner of A New Day Pediatric Psychology.
“While many people struggle with being alone, only children tend to see solitude as an opportunity for reflection, rest, or productivity,” she said.
