Some of the aspects that characterize the African way of life are diverse ethnicity, socio-cultural values and practices, multiculturalism and multilingualism, and interdependence on one another, among others.
A child growing up in Africa is, thus, likely to be shaped by some of these aspects along the way. Child-rearing practices in an African context also integrate indigenous knowledge to a larger extent to complement modernized ways of upbringing.
In numerous African societies, children are regarded as communal assets rather than solely as the progeny of their biological parents. This principle is encapsulated in the proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” reflecting the cultural ethos of Ubuntu. When one parent is unavailable, other parents generally assume responsibility for gathering and supervising all children to ensure that they are safe. This kind of collective parenting and childcare has the advantage of widening children’s developmental experiences.
The aspect of play and what it entails in an African context might also shape the developing child. In most cases, household chores are integrated into and disguised as play activities, thereby helping to develop positive attitudes towards work at very young ages.
The most complex aspect of a child growing up in an African context is perhaps the aspect of language. Most African countries are characterized by multilingualism, which can be viewed either as a benefit or a challenge.
In Africa, formal education and learning opportunities are limited and hindered by several factors. The general lack of school places due to inadequate infrastructure fails to accommodate all eligible children, compounded by widespread parental distrust of institutionalized learning and childcare facilities. Some parenting styles practiced in Africa, especially rites of passages, are in variance with the demands of formal education.
A significant factor influencing child development in Africa is the provision of health services and nutrition. Children from low-income families often lack access to essential resources, such as adequate nutrition, clean water and healthcare services. In certain cases, due to inadequate health and nutritional services, children in Africa are exposed to unhealthy traditional practices that hurt instead of promoting their development.
Despite enduring challenges, there are numerous opportunities and ongoing initiatives aimed at improving the future of African children. Additionally, since most children are exposed to hazards during formative developmental stages, when their cognitive and health status are still malleable, the majority recover, leading to positive outcomes.
Child development through the lenses of the African context
While physical child development follows a universal pattern for all children across the globe, there could be contextual differences in other aspects of the development of children in different parts of the world. The understanding of what constitutes early childhood development and its importance might also vary between continents and countries. It is worth looking into some aspects of holistic development that influence child development through the lenses of the African context. Some of the aspects that characterize the African way of life are diverse ethnicity, socio-cultural values and practices, multiculturalism, multilingualism and interdependence on one another, among others. A child growing up in Africa is likely to be shaped by some of these aspects along the way. Child-rearing practices in an African context also integrate indigenous knowledge to a larger extent to complement modernized ways of upbringing. Thus, you may find that traditional ways of doing things, such as the best way to put a child to sleep or how best to potty-train them, might be practised in daycare centres, kindergartens or at home (Mucherah & Mbogori, 2019).
In numerous African societies, children are regarded as communal assets rather than solely as the progeny of their biological parents. This contrasts with Western cultures, which encourage individual identity formation through environmental interactions. The context of child-rearing profoundly influences socio-emotional, cognitive and physical development (Serpell, 1992; Super & Harkness, 1992). This influence primarily arises from the ecological niche, shaped by factors such as ecological context, available natural resources and prevailing lifestyles (Matsumoto & Juang, 2013). In Africa, where developmental opportunities are often constrained by socio-economic circumstances, many children lack access to privileges afforded to their counterparts in more developed societies, significantly impacting their upbringing.
African societal norms are predominantly collectivist, positing that entire communities share the responsibility for childrearing. Consequently, parenting styles and practices are firmly rooted in this philosophical framework. In contrast, individualistic cultures, especially in Western societies, typically see children raised by their biological parents within a nuclear family structure, affording them the freedom to explore independently with minimal parental oversight. Conversely, collectivist cultures advocate for the involvement of extended family members in childrearing (Carteret, 2016; Greenfield et al., 2012; Lancy, 2016). This principle is encapsulated in the proverb ‘It takes a village to raise a child’, reflecting the cultural ethos of Ubuntu. Extended families, neighbours and distant relatives play essential roles in a child’s development, providing support systems that foster physical, emotional and social growth.
The aspect of play and what it entails in an African context might also shape the developing child. Traditional plays such as playing house, traditional dolls and toys, hide and seek, skipping rope, traditional board games (pebble game/owela in Oshiwambo), hand-clapping games and ball-throwing games such as amagus and ndota in Namibia form a significant part of growing up as a child in Africa. Most of these games develop different perceptual skills in children but also contribute to holistic development, namely physical, social, emotional and cognitive.
When one parent is unavailable, the other parent generally assumes responsibility for gathering and supervising all children to ensure that they are safe. Similarly, childcare responsibilities are taken up by parents on a rotational basis. The available parent takes full responsibility for the children. Since children are cared for collectively, they tend to benefit from the experiences arising from social interactions, which, in the process, help in improving their social, emotional and cognitive development. By prioritizing family, community and interdependence cohesion, communal parenting is essential for the development of attributes of cooperation, sharing and collective wellbeing by reinforcing rules and traditions passed down through generations (Kaani & Machila, 2023). Unfortunately, these child-rearing practices are slowly being eroded as more parents take up formal employment, resulting in nuclear family structures akin to Western societies’ upbringings.
In terms of morals, values and common practices, it is possible that some aspects are given more emphasis than others. It is common that many African cultures stress the importance of values such as greeting people, respecting the elders, how things are done in the culture, how or what to dress and what not, how to talk to the elders, helping one another, helping with house chores from an early age and so on. This can have both advantages and disadvantages for a developing child. The advantages can be that children grow up in good, principled ways. The disadvantages could be that children mature so fast and might not really enjoy the phase of being ‘children’, as so much is expected of them regarding doing ‘the right things’. They could also suffer from issues such as self-esteem, independence and the like. Thus, it is important for parents and teachers to strike this balance as children develop through milestones.
Multilingualism in African countries
The most complex aspect of a child growing up in an African context is perhaps language. Most African countries are characterized by multilingualism, which can be viewed either as a benefit or a challenge. It is a benefit in the sense that during the early childhood phase, the child is inclined to acquire different languages with ease, provided they receive that language input in the environment in which they grow up. This is because the critical period for language acquisition occurs during this age group. Most children in Africa are, therefore, able to speak more than one language during their early childhood phase, a skill they carry into adulthood. The main challenge could be that in the process of growing up in multilingual societies, children might suffer the consequences of not learning their own languages (mother tongues) and taking pride in them, or they might fail to master either of the languages. This poses a risk of language dearth/decline, especially when it comes to minority languages. Therefore, it is important to stress the importance of the mother tongue during the development of children and to create as many opportunities as possible to speak the local languages with children during their early childhood development years.
African societal norms encourage home-based education practices for young children conducted through local cultural music, art and other creative expressions. For rural communities that are still unadulterated and adhere to traditional knowledge and practices, children are taught tribal norms through songs and dance. Storytelling, traditional folklore and indigenous games are the mainstay in transmitting cultural values and life skills from one generation to another. However, as Africa becomes more modernized, these traditions tend to coexist with the modern influences of Western institutionalized schooling. Although some societies have completely done away with their traditions as a means of achieving modernization, others still hang on to some valuable aspects of their cultures. However, creating a balance between old traditions and modern practices in the development of children would be advisable.
Challenges of child development in the African context
In Africa, formal education and learning opportunities are hindered by several factors. The general lack of school places due to inadequate infrastructure fails to accommodate all eligible children, compounded by widespread parental distrust of institutionalized learning and childcare facilities. Consequently, some children remain out of school, not due to a lack of educational opportunities but due to parental fears about leaving their children in the care of unfamiliar or untrustworthy caregivers. Additional barriers to school enrolment arise from concerns regarding witchcraft and neglect within educational establishments. These factors, combined with the challenges posed by poor-quality education, adversely affect enrolment rates. However, emerging alternatives such as community schools, non-governmental organizations and technological innovations such as e-learning platforms are facilitating increased enrolment across the continent.
A significant factor influencing child development in Africa is the provision of health services and nutritious diets. The continent’s inadequate child health system has resulted in endemic childhood diseases, while the effects of starvation exacerbated by climate change are apparent in many communities. Many children lack access to food, let alone the nutritious options essential for survival and development (WHO, 2018). Consequently, a substantial proportion of children remains malnourished, contributing to high mortality rates, as well as wasting and stunting. The prevalence of these child health issues remains significantly below the global average. While concerted efforts in vitamin supplementation, vaccination campaigns and the promotion of positive maternal health programs are underway, much more needs to be done to ensure the health and nutritional status of all children in Africa.
Poverty significantly hinders child development in numerous African nations. Children from low-income families often lack access to essential resources, such as adequate nutrition, clean water and healthcare services. Furthermore, they face rights violations through practices such as child labour and child marriage. Despite ongoing efforts to address these issues, such practices remain prevalent across the continent. Notably, despite these adversities, African children exhibit remarkable resilience, with many successfully reshaping their futures. Their stories of perseverance and creativity underscore the potential inherent in every child.
In conclusion
In conclusion, child development in Africa is influenced by a complex interplay of cultural, socio-economic and environmental factors. Despite enduring challenges, there are numerous opportunities and ongoing initiatives aimed at improving the future of African children. Through collective action and sustained support, the continent can empower its youngest population to thrive and realize their full potential.
References
Developing child in African context
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