Parents often treat younger children with more patience or leniency because they view them as more vulnerable or "needing" more attention.
Research from BYU News suggests that subtle parental preferences are often subconscious and based on birth order or agreeableness.
In some families, cultural or personal gender preferences lead parents to value one child’s traits or future potential more than the other's. my-parents-love-my-younger-brother-more-than-me
Feeling like your parents prefer your younger brother can be incredibly painful, but it is a common dynamic that psychologists and researchers have studied extensively.
A psychological term for when parents treat siblings differently, which can lead to increased sibling rivalry or lower self-esteem in the "less-favored" child. Parents often treat younger children with more patience
Many find relief by journaling their feelings. Writing down your experiences can help you process the pain without immediately escalating a conflict at home.
Understand that parents may love both children but "like" or relate to one more easily due to shared interests or temperament. Academic & Research Perspectives Feeling like your parents prefer your younger brother
Older children are frequently held to higher, sometimes unrealistic, standards of responsibility, while younger siblings may benefit from the "boys will be boys" excuse or simply more relaxed rules as parents age.