Smaller families are better for kids?

[FlowersAndShit]

What does everyone think? What was your experience growing up in a small/large family?

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/small-families-are-better-for-children-research-finds-a6793936.html

[SheGotAllDaMoves]

But lentil having a little look into the lives of others is what MN is all about.

We ask questions, we listen, we gain insights. It's interesting, informative, entertaining. A bit of fun.

I'm never ever ever going to want 5 children. But that doesn't stop me wondering why others do.

[LentilStew]

It's not the wondering that's got people's back up on this thread. It's the idea that it's selfish and that no way can your children be having enough quality time. Oh and that your older ones must be looking after your younger ones. Also maybe that it's strange.

[LentilStew]

Bambambini, well obviously I don't see it as a very big family but through out this thread people have referred to 4 as big. Many posters saying anything over 2 is too many.

[LentilStew]

Throughout

[PegsPigs]

CheerfulYank good to know I'm not the only exception to the rule

[2016IsANewYearforMe]

Molio, you are like a drunk in a bar trying to start a fight!

I am no trapist monk, myself. We all "indulge" our desires to some extent. My point up thread was that it's not so difficult to understand why people might have a large family. The desire to procreate is fairly fundamental to the human condition. One might as easily ask why don't most people choose to have more?

[Molio]

What a patently ridiculous thing to say 2016. There are others with large families who've been far less mellow than me. I've said in terms that in my view neither side can claim to be better or less selfish than the other.

You must have only witnessed extremely lame fights . You need to go to real pubs! Less of the hyperbole!

[MrsB76]

Depends largely on the country's policies and the family's situation: "For example, one study published in 2005 that looked at families and kids among the entire population of Norway turned up substantially different findings. That study showed only negligible effects from family size on a kid's performance. However, a similar study done in China showed a big effect, with kids in larger families receiving much less schooling, especially in rural areas."

[BlueSmarties76]

I cant begin to imagine how hard it must be to raise a large family, but clearly lots of parents manage well (though personally I could not unless I could have a nanny, cleaner, tutor and enough money for a bigger house etc!)

I think it's just a case of effort X resources. I think the maximum sensible number of children would vary massively from family to family, but even with unlimited resources and 2 dedicated parents I imagine there's probably a limit beyond which no parent would have the time to be close to every child, for example, the TV mother with 18 children (15 at home) and 5 dogs who does not have a lot of money.

[BlueSmarties76]

AndNowItsSeven
Could you imagine coping with more children? For example, could you see yourself having another 2/3 in the next 4/5 years? I'm really curious about what your daily routine is? And do you have a lot of money / any help?

[AndNowItsSeven]

Blue no I won't be having any more children. I would love more but health wise it would not be a good idea.
I do have some help, we have cleaner for two hours a week, a gardener, and a " mothers help" who does the younger dc's laundry and helps tidy their rooms , plays with the toddlers while I cook dinner etc She comes twice a week for three hours each time. The older two dc also have a tutor for 90 minutes each week.
Daily routine is quite flexible just
the usual dc nap time, toddler groups, park etc they start to wake up at 5.30 and all but the eldest two are in bed by 6.30 so that helps with quality time for the elder two in the evenings.
We are not rich I think we have an average income.

[TouchingToes]

Parents have large families for different reasons. Some because they want lots of children, plan for them and throw their everything into family life.

The Daily Mail would have us all believe that it is to secure benefits.

There are also parents who have many children to secure their narcissistic supply, the children's wellbeing simply doesn't come into it. They set out to create little "mini me's" and at around 2, when the child annoyingly starts to express their own personality, the parent wants a replacement "mirror". And so it goes on...