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             Parents also tend to have higher expectations for their oldest children than for children of any other birth order. New parents do not have much experience when they have their first child and therefore tend to be extremely strict with them. They want to be the "perfect" parents, setting and example for their firstborn so that he, in turn, would set a good example for later-borns. Not only do parents set high expectations on their oldest children, but they also look for children to satisfy all of their expectations. Differences in achievements are due to parental expectations. The study suggested that future achievements are influenced by differences in parental treatment with regard to birth order. Bradley and Mims state: "They [parents] also treat oldest children in the family differently from the ways they treat subsequent children. . . in our society, first-born children occupy higher status, higher pay, and higher power occupations" (Bradley and Mims 447). High parental expectations become a problem when their first-born develops a low self-esteem due to the fact that he is unable to satisfy all of the expectations set on him. The child may not realize that his parents might expect more than he can handle, creating a slow deterioration of his self confidence and self belief. .

             Likewise, parents tend to be extremely overprotective with their first child. In another discussion by Forer, the author states that "parents are usually more tense and anxious when the first child is born than they will be with later children because they are .

             3.

             uncertain of their ability to care for a child. Their inexperience may cause them to expect more of their first child than they will expect of later children" (Forer 97). And so the first child immediately becomes the "crown prince" or "crown princess" of the family (Forer 97). He becomes used to having the undivided love and attention from his parents.