ISSUES
: Our Changing Population
Chapter 2: Global population issues
38
plenty of people who grew up with
hordes of brothers and sisters who
are among the most self-centred
people I know.”
MYTH: only children
are lonely
Mixing with peers is an essential
part of a child’s development.
But
nurseries,
after-school
clubs,
neighbouring
families
and the plethora of local child-
friendly activities now available to
youngsters, mean socialising is no
longer restricted to the confines of
the family home.
“Somehow even the title ‘only
child’ has a ring of sadness about
it – some suggestion there must be
something for such a child to
overcome,” says David, who lives
with his partner and three-year-old
son, Louis, in Reykjavik.
“We have many good
friends who live literally
minutes walk away who
have kids Louis’s age,
as well as both older and
younger. He is very used
to not being the only child
around, and to socialising
with kids of other ages.”
“Besides, being alone
doesn’t necessarily equate
to being lonely,” says
Jenny, 40, an only child
with one seven-year-old
daughter, Sophie. “I’ve
“Somehow even the
title ‘only child’ has a
ring of sadness about it
– some suggestion there
must be something
for such a child to
overcome”
always liked my own company,
which I think has made me very
self-sufficient and self-motivated.”
She adds: “There’s this idea of
a gaping void in the life of an
only child. But Sophie has never
expressed an interest in having a
sibling. She has plenty of friends –
and having a dog helps!”
“I am an only child and I’ve never
felt that I’ve missed out on having
siblings. I make my family out of
friends,” says Suzie, 35.
“My son has plenty of friends at
preschool and I make sure he has
lots of opportunities to play with
them. I’m sure it’s lovely if you have
a close relationship with a sibling,
but there’s absolutely no guarantee
that you would get on with them,”
she adds.
MYTH: parents who
choose to have one
child are selfish
“Selfish is a word that comes up
over and over again when it comes
to only children. But being selfish
can be a good thing,” explains
Jenny.
“Endless compromise does no one
any favours and a few of my friends
have the wrecked relationships to
prove it.”
Tom, 29, from Sheffield, agrees:
The way I see it, happy and relaxed
parents equal a happy and relaxed
child.
“Having more holidays, more
money, more space at home and
more time for each other as a
couple, as well as a family, are not
just perks for my wife and me. All
of these things will give our son
Lucas a better quality of life, too.
“As long as we ensure he gets
plenty of opportunity to make
strong and lasting friendships I
don’t think we are depriving him in
any way.”
A close parental bond
Being stuck with ‘the olds’ might
sound boring to those with siblings,
but only children can have a unique
closeness with their parents.
“I’m really close to my parents –
they’re always the first people I turn
to in a crisis, even if I know what
they’re going to tell me is what I don’t
always want to hear,” says Ash.
“I believe that my strong bond
comes because I always had their
undivided attention – I never had to
turn to other people growing up, as
friends of mine often had to because
they had a wayward brother or sister
who was taking up a lot of their
parents’ time.”
“I’m really close to my
parents – they’re always
the first people I turn
to in a crisis, even if I
know what they’re going
to tell me is what I don’t
always want to hear”
Households by size, United Kingdom, 2011–2014
Number of
households
2011 estimate 2012 estimate 2013 estimate 2014 estimate
One person
7,660
7,717
7,752
7,586
Two people
9,246
9,286
9,152
9,342
Three people
4,255
4,367
4,367
4,311
Four people
3,530
3,555
3,638
3,708
Five people
1,169
1,165
1,211
1,208
Six or more
people
548
524
533
548
Source:
Labour Force Survey (LFS)
, Office for National Statistics
“I feel that as long as
I make sure that I’m
Eloise’s friend and
companion as well as
her mummy, and that
her family friends are
lifelong, she won’t miss
a sibling”
