How Nomads Raise Children Communally
Modern parents take on much more of the childcare responsibilities themselves than their nomadic ancestors, but this leads to less effective parenting, a new study suggests.
Anthropologists at Cambridge University studied Mbendjele BaYaka, a semi-nomadic tribe who live today in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to find out how traditional societies care for their youngsters.
They found that children were often looked after by up to 10 members of the group. Communal parenting gave mothers time to work and rest. At any one time, the ratio of caregivers to children was greater than five to one, much more than in modern homes or nurseries.
The study also found it was common for older children and adolescents to be heavily involved in caring for infants, giving these young carers valuable experience, boosting their confidence about becoming parents themselves.
Vocabulary:
childcare responsibilities – the duties and tasks involved in looking after and raising children, such as feeding, bathing, and teaching them, “Sharing childcare responsibilities equally helps both parents maintain a healthy work-life balance.”
nomadic ancestors – family members from many generations ago who traveled from place to place to find food and resources instead of living in one permanent home, “Our nomadic ancestors relied on tracking wild animal herds to survive the changing seasons.”
traditional societies – communities that closely follow long-standing customs, beliefs, and ways of living passed down through generations, “Many traditional societies place a strong emphasis on community support and deep respect for elders.”
communal parenting – a system where an entire neighborhood, village, or group shares the duty of raising and looking after children, “The small town practices a form of communal parenting, where neighbors always look out for each other’s kids.”
caregivers – people who look after and take care of others, such as children, elderly family members, or sick patients, “The daycare center hired extra caregivers to ensure the toddlers receive plenty of attention.”
heavily involved in – deeply, frequently, or closely participating in a specific activity, project, or organization, “She is heavily involved in the local charity and spends every weekend volunteering.”
valuable experience – highly useful, helpful, or important knowledge and skills gained from actually doing a job or activity, “An internship at the law firm provided him with valuable experience for his future career.”
boosting their confidence – increasing, improving, or strengthening a person’s belief in their own abilities and worth, “Scoring the winning goal did wonders for boosting his confidence for the rest of the soccer season.”