ABSTRACT
This chapter describes general features of Congo Basin forager childhood that are relatively distinct from their farming neighbors. It examines cultural diversity in childcare patterns, both between and within forager ethnic groups. The chapter identifies and discusses the anthropological, developmental psychology and evolutionary biology theories that researchers used to guide their studies with Congo Basin hunter-gatherer children. All of the child-focused research has been conducted with four ethnic groups–the Aka, Baka, Mbuti and Efe–so the discussion of inter-cultural and intracultural variability is limited to these groups. The chapter describes features of Congo Basin hunter-gatherer childhoods that are common to ethnic groups with data at various ages and relatively distinct from childhood in neighboring farmer groups. Congo Basin hunter-gatherer children are granted autonomy in their daily lives, while farmer children are subject to the control of parents and older children. Play is highly valued and occurs at all ages.
