ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to examine children's foraging behavior in what is probably one of the best environments for young foragers. It considers how Mikea children achieve their high return rates, and also why they forage at lower rates than adolescents and adults. The chapter presents scan-sampling time allocation data and foraging return rate data from the Mikea community of Behisatse. It identifies that while Mikea children experience over twice as much leisure time as do adolescents and adults, they allocate similar time to foraging, especially for the wild tuber called ovy. Mikea children make a significant contribution to the household food procurement effort. The chapter examines children's time allocation and foraging return rates in the Mikea Forest of southwestern Madagascar in order to contribute to current debates about the evolution, economy, and ecology of childhood in foraging societies. It concludes by questioning whether "efficiency" is commensurate with children's foraging goals.
