An only child certainly benefits from having the family financial resources focussed upon him or herself. Parents of only children no longer have to worry about their child being lonely or at a social disadvantage. Mobility and the resources to support an active social life have put an end to that. Only children have friends to stay over on a regular basis and at school they have no problem fitting in and making new friends. Many of their classmates are also only children.
Many couples are increasingly concerned about providing a good education.
Some are keen to give their child a private education or, at least, private tuition in certain subjects. If this means that they can only afford to have one child, then so be it. Parents of only children have more time to focus on the general aspects of child development and learning issues and can give their child that individual attention that makes such a difference. Studies have proven that only children often do better in life for the same reasons that first-borns do. First-borns have their parents individual attention for those important first few years and therefore benefit from greater stimulation.