I guess you could name a syndrome for anything
3 kid syndrome
4 kid syndrome
2 kid syndrome
Kid with red hair syndrome
Kid with blond hair syndrome, kid with sister syndrome, kid with 2 sister syndrome kid with no sister syndrome.
How about teenage syndrome? That the one I'd worry about.

If I hear only child syndrom I would think of a spoiled brat. So I guess it sounds like it would work. But I agree with joemm, there could be a syndrome for anything. But you mostly hear about "middle child syndrome".

why would you think of a spoiled brat when you think of an only child? ...

if you have brothers and/or sisters, think about what it would be like if you didn't have them...do you think you would be a spoiled brat?....hmmm....

Honestly yeah, Because I would get all my mom and dads attention and there wouldn't be spending money on stuff for my other sisters. I wasn't trying to offend you or anything, but most only children I know are very spoiled.

VLeww... :)

you didn't offend me...and i don't want to offend you, but your reply is indicative of your age.....

you say most only children you know are very spoiled....and how many would that be...

only children are a minority...that is why they are stereotyped...and what makes them spoiled....

sure they get all of mom and dad's attention and money...but that doesn't make them spoiled...mom's and dad's want the same things for all their children, whether its one child or 10 ...and getting all of mom and dad's attention isn't necessarily a good thing...if all their attention is focused on one child...that child is likely to be very sheltered and unable to get away with things other children can get away with...sure they will try, but its a lot harder when mom and dad are constantly watching them and only them...there is a lot more pressure on the only child to be the perfect child, the strait a student, the star athlete... everything that mom and dad couldn't be for one reason or another...and in the end when the only child becomes an adult...and hasn't accomplished all those things the only child sees him/her self as a failure, and then has to go through adult related experiences like loosing a parent...the only child is left all alone....all alone at the beginning and all alone at the end....always all alone....

i don't think only children are spoiled...they are just misunderstood...and very lONLeY..and alone....and selfish, because they never had to learn to share...and alone....and inconsiderate because they never learned how to care or think of others...and alone....

only children are not spoiled...they're just alone.....

Depressed
It's the parent job to teach only children that they are not alone they still have family and friends. It's also the parents job to teach the only child to share and to think of others.
It's also not a good idea to not put too much pressue on the only child to be a perfect student ect...
Joe

i agree joe...it is the parents job to teach there kids that they are not alone, how to share, and to be kind to others...and children shouldn't be pressured into anything...BUT what happens when the parents do their job to the best of their ability and the child still feels alone, is still selfish or inconsiderate, or still thinks of him/herself as a failure....

did the parents fail? did the child fail...

we as human beings can be taught many things, all through out our lives...but what we are taught and what we learn are two different things...

remember the saying Practice makes perfect...
parents can teach an only child to share, but the child can't practice it if there is no one to share with...the same thing with consideration....there is only so much practice that a child can get from outside the home...most of the learning comes from inside the home...and if there are no peers to practice sharing with...how are they supposed to learn...

even employers base hiring decisions on how much real world experience possible employees have....

another thing children themselves are very hard on themselves...they blame thereselves for their parents problems...whether we as parents put undue pressure on them or not...they themselves are their biggest critics...

Oh my goodness YES. Only child: More grown up being raised around all adults, less social with other kids, they don't know how siblings rival, the more they want to be independant the more they are immature. It's hard for them to grow up, but they are totally dependently, independant. They have either mom or dad, usually mom as a playmate in the earlier years, then later they are confused because they need to separate but they always get everything from them it's hard to do it themselves.
You try to raise them with the social influences, but they still seem to stay back. They get all your attention and you spend your time and money on them. All the while trying to instill morals and values so they are not a brat they are usually spoiled, but they don't need to be a brat.
The problem is as they grow up they still think mom and dad will keep shoveling out for them.
I guess the point i was trying to make is while you're loving and nurturing with unconditional love. Being an only child makes them prematuraly mature. They need to be a kid so it is chalanging at times to balance the two. Especially when you get into the peer thing later as tweens.
Good Luck

yes, yes, yes...lindarob

you make very good points about an 'only child'

But since they are the minority, very few people realize these issues and stereotype the only child as a 'spoiled brat'

i was actually starting to wonder if there was anyone else outthere who recognized this....

Only children... syndrome... sure, but the coin has two sides... certain experiences never happen for an only child because they do grow up mainly with adults and that does leave some limiting factors in their lives. Only children are also subject to something that children from larger families are not - the full undivided attention of their parents and that many times is an overbearing weight that follows them throughout their lives.

I have heard/read about things specific to an only child. If it's called a syndrome or not -- I'm not sure. Some of them are:
They often treat friends - as siblings.
They become more attached to friends.
They can be lonely.
They tend to be more naive, than kids w/siblings, who learn many behaviors, thoughts, early and often, from older siblings.
They sometimes will share posessions more willingly, to gain friends. They usually have things, but want kids to play with and acceptance.
Only children, are definitely stereotyped often, as brats. I know of some only children who have to work very hard, for extras. And there are some who don't. The same as multi-children households, can overindulge or not overindulge.
It's a shame, these kids, get a "bum rap", so frequently.

yep...only kids do get a bum rap...and they are negatively stereotyped as spoiled brats...

i was watching a show the other night with a new syndrome....'VIOLENT GIRL SYNDROME'...

SURELY, if we recognize Violent Girl Syndrome...we can recognize 'only child syndrome' since there is apparently a stigma to being an only child....whether is positive or negative...it's there...

personally i don't believe that only children are 'spoiled brats'...i think they are just a misunderstood minority....

-dr-

I think the only child syndrome applies if the parents spoil the child rotten. And don't teach the values of sharing and caring about others.
I have a daughter who is an only child, and a nieces and nephews who are only children(dif parents of coarse)
One of my nieces, her parents spoiled her rotten, and she has the only child syndrome where as , my daughter and my other niece and and nepehws are not spoiled.
I think it may also be in the personality of the child....as well as how they are reared.
Kim

i disagree...

only children are a minority, just as parents that spoil their children are a minority.

and how is it that you know your child or your other niece and nephew don't suffer from the syndrome...

i knew an only child whose mother always asked why doesn't my child share like i do, like i taught him, or why does my child turn to his friends more than to me? for years the child thought there was something wrong with him, as an adult, he realized it was because he didn't have the opportunity to learn things the way children with siblings do...he wasn't spoiled or anything...he was just a little different....

another only child, came from a very strict family, he had chores, strict rules and regulations to adhere to...and was very close to being physically abused if he didn't follow those rules...did he suffer from the syndrome...yes he did....and he definately wasn't spoiled....

once again, only children are just a misunderstood minority....

Just keep in mid there's always exceptions to every rule =)