National Middle Child Day: Why It Is So Good To Be The 'Oft-Forgotten' Child

Every year on Aug. 12, we observe National Middle Child Day to honor that "in-between child" in the family.

It is said that middle children get less attention from busy parents. The commonly held belief is that this leads to insecurity and resentment, which they might carry on into adulthood. However, like every other hear-say, this may not be true as many middle children are said to have developed great critical skills that help them become successful adults.

It was Elizabeth Walker who founded the day to give the oft-forgotten middle kids their own special celebration in 1986. While these celebrations often help alleviate the burden associated with being the middle child, let us learn why being one isn't that bad.

1) They are more willing to learn: According to Catherine Salmon and Katrin Schumann, authors of "The Secret Power of Middle Children," research proves that middle children are more open to experience and learning, thereby develop different abilities. Their experience searching for their niche in the family makes them team players who know how to deal with everyone.

2) Middle children are more independent: Middle children often end up overlooked by their parents, but this only makes them more independent and self-reliant. They think out of the box, feel less pressured to conform, and are more empathetic.

3) They are peacemakers: Many psychologists believe that "middleness" actually helps develop skills like diplomacy and resilience. Due to the lack of parental attention, middleborns are more likely to fight injustice. Here are some of the middle-children who brought in a change: Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Charles Darwin and Bill Gates.

4) They make good partners: One quality often attributed to middle children is that they make great marriage material. According to a survey, 80% of the middle children had never cheated on their significant others, while 65% of firstborns and 53% of lastborns had. This may be due to the conflict-resolution skills that middle children learn why they grow up. This same quality helps them greatly in workplaces.