The secret lives of Neanderthal children

[Marthe48]

5. Informative article

I think it is more unusual that children don't contribute work to their family. I read in a book about sociobiology that children were economic assests to a family, it was actually cheaper for a poor family to rear kids than a rich family, considering the poor kids are put to work, and the rich kids get riding lessons.

I also read about life in colonial America, that small children, such as toddlers gathered firewood for the family, and 4 year olds were often knitting socks for the family.

It makes sense that hunter gatherers employed their children as soon as possible to ensure a better chance of survival.