When a family decides to educate their children through Achievement House Cyber Charter School, one of the frequent concerns we hear from parents is about how to manage the age differences and personalities of their children.

A new study comparing the IQs and personality traits of siblings to their birth order answers that question. Surprisingly, there are very few differences, according to the study completed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by researcher Rodica Damian and psychology professor Brent Roberts.

In fact, the IQ of the oldest sibling in a family is on average only about 1 point higher than his or her younger brothers or sisters, according to Damian.

The study, to be published in the October edition of the “Journal Research in Personality,” was based on a notably large sibling sample of 377,000 high school students.

The study estimated the links between birth order and outcomes across several different social categories. It found the differences were so small they had no practical relevance to people’s lives.

So what does this mean for families who educate their children through Achievement House Cyber Charter School? Because Achievement House Cyber Charter School’s curriculum is designed to meet each student’s academic needs, every child in your family can thrive at their own pace in our cyber school.

Here are some tips to help your children focus on their individual strengths and prevent sibling rivalry:

1. Don’t’ make comparisons

If you appreciate their differences and strengths, they will learn to appreciate their siblings for their differences and strengths.

2. Don’t be fair

Treating your children the same can actually provoke sibling rivalry because they will learn to expect exactly the same attention or rewards. Strive to meet each child’s individual needs, but be sure to spend alone time with each of them.

3. Don’t show favoritism

Sometimes it is difficult to recognize when we are playing favorites. Ask a trusted friend or a spouse or someone who spends time with your family to give an objective assessment of the level of favoritism in your household. You may be surprised by the answers!

4. Don’t separate them

When children argue, the simple solution for the moment is to separate them. But that only brings peace to your world for that moment. For lasting peace and friendship, teach them to resolve their own conflicts. A top-rated book on Amazon with helpful tips is “Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life” by Dr. Laura Markham.

5. Consider them a team

Because your children are at home attending school online together, it is important for them to treat each other as if they are schoolmates. Encourage them to work together on school projects and household chores. They actually may end up preferring spending time with each other over outside friends.