ABSTRACT
The intercultural realities of children’s socialisation are an important aspect of early development. However, the introduction of formal education in Africa takes little account of existing modes of socialisation. The objective of the study reported in this chapter was to analyse the socialisation of children aged birth to 3 within the socioculturally diverse region of Abomey-Calavi in Benin. The study used a qualitative, random sampling–based approach to conduct interviews with 31 households. Findings revealed socialisation stories of young children and how they were based on the representations of the stages in the life of a child. Vertical socialisation is accompanied by horizontal socialisation in the peer group.
