As the oldest child, it often goes with the territory. Ruth says Julia s younger sister Sarah often lets her take charge. The younger sibling looks up to her older sibling and adores her, says parenting expert Meri Wallace, But the older sibling often pushes away, because she feels jealous. Especially since a younger child is more needy and tends to get more attention. Still, Sarah is learning to stand up for herself.
Experts say a sibling who always gives in is setting the stage for later in life.
As she grows, she will take a backseat, says Wallace. She may back down when ever she has a strong personality to deal with because she's afraid to somehow lose the relationship. In turn, a bossy child often becomes a domineering grown-up. She's learning this is the way to get needs met in life. To avoid trouble ahead, experts say parents should step in and talk to the domineering child about his or her behavior in a non-critical way.