A cultural approach to child development in Latin American Indigenous Communities

Child development is a continuous neurobiological process shaped by established cultural norms. The historical, social, political, and economic context determines the child rearing patterns and influences the children's behavior and conduct. Distinctive approaches towards child development are evidenced among western societies and indigenous communities, each with a different set of social expectations and demands. In contrast to modern practices, indigenous communities are characteristic for their learning processes based on oral transmission and observation, as well as their particular respect for nature and the surrounding environment. This cultural approach to upbringing patterns highlights the unique perspective of latin american ethnicities towards the concept of child development and its impact on the overall functioning of each.