Hunter-Gatherer Children Master Essential Skills by Age Six

Hunter-gatherer children in the Congo Basin learn essential skills like hunting and childcare by age six through a unique social learning environment that involves parents, peers, and unrelated adults. This broad network fosters cumulative culture, allowing skills to be innovated and passed across generations. Unlike Western societies, where learning is parent- or teacher-centered, these children benefit from egalitarian values and autonomy, promoting self-driven exploration. The study highlights the importance of diverse social interactions in preserving cultural traits over time.