When I'm not saying na-na-na-na-boo-boo...

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who read the story about higher IQs in eldest children with interest. People are all in a tizzy since this is an environmental effect that they might just be able to explain. The NY Times has published a follow-up article about why this phenomenon might occur. And in it, they make a really interesting suggestion:

Something else is at work, Dr. Zajonc said, and he has found evidence that tutoring — a natural role for older siblings — benefits the teacher more than it does the student. “Explaining something to a younger sibling solidifies your knowledge and allows you to grow more extensively,” he said. “The younger one is asking questions, and challenging meanings and explanations, and that will contribute to the intellectual maturity of the older one.” (Only children receive the benefit of
more parental attention but miss the opportunity to tutor a younger brother or
sister.)

So, in point of fact, I shouldn't be sticking out my tongue and telling my sister to suck it at this finding. I should be thanking her for asking me all of those annoying questions over the years.

Somehow, someway it all ends up being about her.

(Sidenote: I wonder how long it will be before my MIL sends me this study as part of her scientific-reasons-why-I-should-provide-a-sibling-for-Munchkin campaign. I give it two days).