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Children in a large family: 5 pros and 4 cons
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

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Children in a large family have their advantages and their problems. In some countries, such as ours, children from a large family have numerous benefits for admission or receipt of material benefits. In China, on the contrary, they are trying to reduce the birth rate by limiting benefits for large families. Let's consider what are the pros and cons of a large family.
[ 1 ]
What is a large family?
In Ukraine and Russia, a family with three or more children under 16 is considered to be a large family. If the children are studying, the status of "child" is extended up to 23 years inclusive. Moreover, adopted children and biological children are considered children. But it is worth noting that not all people want to have the status of a large family - today there are only 3-5% of such in our country. Therefore, the state tries to stimulate citizens to have children financially.
In Ukraine and Russia, large families receive state support according to the state program for supporting large families. For example, large families with three or more children under 18 who live in the same living space with their parents have the right to a free plot of land.
Large families also receive benefits and subsidies for housing and communal services. Mothers in such families have the right to a reduction in the retirement age, and both parents have the right to tax benefits and extended vacations (up to 36 days instead of 24).
In China, the situation is completely different. Since 1970, the government has been trying to limit the birth rate. Families in the city are allowed to have no more than one child, and in the countryside - no more than two children, but only if the first child is a girl. If more children are born in the family, the parents pay a large fine. They can also be expelled from the ruling party - the Communist Party.
"For" a large family
Researchers, having compared several types of families, determined that in a large family a child has a greater chance of growing up to be a socially adapted person.
[ 2 ]
Children in large families grow up friendly
In a family with three or more children, everyone is forced to adapt to the conditions of mutual assistance. The older children look after the younger ones, are responsible for housework and therefore grow up more friendly.
Parents in such a family are also more friendly, because they have to solve many problems that need to be discussed first. The shared responsibility for the material and psychological well-being of the family unites them. Such spouses always get divorced much less often than couples with 1-2 children.
[ 3 ]
Communication skills
Since children in large families need to communicate with each other and with their parents, they grow up more sociable. This skill then helps them in their careers and family life.
Striving for material well-being
Parents who raise many children, as a rule, have a worse financial situation than those who have fewer than three children. But this is an additional incentive to earn money. In addition, children who grew up in a large family and are accustomed to shared toys and clothes often strive to make up for lost time and earn more in adulthood.
Adaptation
Children from large families adapt to any environment and any company faster. This allows them to move up the career ladder faster and establish intimate contacts. Such children, as a rule, are more successful in family life, since they had an example of a mother and father who constantly overcame role family conflicts. Children from large families have no illusions about the "handsome prince" and "handsome princess" as partners. They do not set excessive demands on them and do not shirk responsibility themselves. This helps avoid divorces.
[ 4 ]
Psychological stability
Children from large families have this quality, since their parents, as a rule, have them in full measure. This helps them cope with various life tasks, which is what they actually did all their childhood.
"Against" a large family
A large family has not only its advantages for children, but also, of course, its disadvantages. This is normal and natural. And yet, it is worth knowing about these disadvantages
Material issue
The government's financial assistance, despite benefits, subsidies and additional payments, is still insufficient to provide children with a full life. Parents still have to earn extra money. As a rule, families with many children learn to do many things themselves: carpentry, sewing, cooking, repairs - all this saves expenses.
Attention deficit
Children in large families cannot afford the luxury of being alone with their parents and receiving maximum attention from them. They are always brought up in a group. And little ones so lack this psychological role – to be a defenseless baby, and to be the only one who gets time and love from their parents. This gives rise to self-doubt or, on the contrary, an exaggerated sense of responsibility, because you need to look after the younger ones, do housework that never ends.
[ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ]
Great psychological stress
Children in large families are deprived of childhood early, which a child spends much longer if he is alone with his parents. Therefore, children in large families can develop a tendency to leadership early, the position of "I decide everything for everyone". This can increase the social and psychological burden of the child - not according to his age.
Lack of personal space
It is very rare for children in a large family to live in separate rooms, especially if there are more than four children. Therefore, they have a permanent "dormitory", such children are deprived of personal space. On the one hand, this increases the ability to adapt, on the other hand, it does not allow them to fully develop, to express themselves to the fullest extent.
Think about what kind of family you would like to have - a large family or not? Children from a large family have their own rights and responsibilities, and it is up to you to decide what is more important and valuable to you.