How parents unknowingly harm siblings

The lifelong effects of 'the favourite child' Emmanuel Lafont From serving up prawn cocktail when my brother came to visit to telling off one sibling more than the other, favouritism can take many forms Most parents won't admit it, but a surprising number have a 'hidden favourite' and the way they treat that child compared to their siblings can have long-lasting impacts on their mental health as adults and on family relationships. "Preferential treatment may begin for parents due to one child being easier to parent, they may relate to that child more, see similarities between them and the child," she says. Emmanuel Lafont Even a dispute between siblings can lead to feelings that one is favoured by parents, so having open conversations about these feelings can help Being the "golden child" can also come with pain. "You might expect being a favourite child to come with many benefits, however, it can also cause emotional distress for adult children," she says.