Childhood in Maya society facts for kids

The role of children in the ancient Maya civilization was very important. From a young age, around five or six, children were expected to help their families and communities. They were treated like young adults and given more responsibilities as they grew up.

Growing Up in Ancient Maya

In ancient Maya society, children learned many important "norms" and "responsibilities." They were raised to help and learn from their parents. This included doing chores around the house, learning survival skills, and even hunting if needed.

There were often different roles for boys and girls:

• Young girls learned household duties from their mothers.
• Young boys helped their fathers with farming or other jobs.

Mothers usually raised the children. But when a boy was about four or five, his father would start training him. By the time adolescents turned 15, they were expected to be independent. This idea of a strong work ethic is still important for many young people today.

Maya children often had their lives planned out early. Girls learned everything from their mothers, and boys learned their father's "job." It was believed that children were always learning survival skills and the ways of their culture.

Special Maya Customs for Children

The Maya people had some unique ideas about how children should look. For example, when babies were very young, boards were gently pressed on their foreheads. This created a flattened shape, which was seen as beautiful, especially among the upper class.

Another practice was to make babies' eyes look crossed. To do this, objects were dangled in front of a newborn's eyes until they became permanently crossed.

The Maya also had special naming customs. Most Maya children were named based on the day they were born. Each day of the year had a specific name for both boys and girls, and parents were expected to follow this tradition.

Values and Learning for Maya Children

Several important values were taught to Maya children. Having a strong work ethic was important, but working for the good of the whole community was even more necessary.

Families were extremely important in Maya culture. Respecting family leaders was a must. Children also learned responsibility, independence, self-confidence, and how to make decisions. Many believed that the most important quality for children was common sense. They gained this by spending time with and observing their parents.

Among some Yucatec Maya parents today, a ceremony called hetsmek is still practiced. This ceremony helps a child learn about their community and responsibilities.

Maya Children Today

Maya people live in many parts of Central and South America today, like Guatemala. There isn't a lot of research specifically on the lives of Maya children, because most studies focus on children from European-American backgrounds. However, it's clear that the goals for how Maya children are raised and their daily activities are different from many other cultures.

How Maya Children Learn

Children in many Maya communities often learn in different ways than those in European-American communities. Maya cultures often focus on:

• Community activities where adults and children participate together.
• The importance of what parents believe.
• Children's own motivation to learn.

Maya children grow up learning within the context of work and other family activities. They often learn by watching and joining in with others.

Young children in Maya communities, like San Pedro La Laguna, are often seen listening to older children, adults, and elders as they work. These children are expected to observe what's happening around them to learn. Mixing different age groups is important for their learning. Children interact with people of all ages, not just those their own age. Maya brothers and sisters also help teach each other.

Maya children watch and take part in adult work to become active members of their community. While children in many Western communities might not do as much productive work, Maya children see this work as a way to feel valuable.

Maya children often engage in less pretend play than children from many Western communities. When Maya children play, it's often like they are practicing the adult work they see around them. For example, a child might pretend to "weave" on a make-believe loom or "wash clothes" by pouring water on a cloth. This is how Maya children are learning through play.

This style of learning, where children play-act work and help with real tasks, is called Learning by Observing and Pitching In. In this approach, the learner watches and listens, driven by their own interest and focus. This personal drive to learn is combined with the expectation that they will join in shared activities. Maya children learn this way because they are motivated to learn and are included in community tasks. Maya children are respected as capable helpers in their community from as young as 3 or 4 years old.

This learning style is different from "assembly-line instruction," which is common in many Western schools. Assembly-line instruction often means knowledge is passed from experts to students in a way that doesn't always involve hands-on, purposeful activity. Maya children learn through being included and having hands-on experiences. Because of this, Maya children are often more observant of their surroundings compared to European-American children. Learning through observation and participation helps them develop skills like being able to pay attention to two things at once, which supports their way of life and learning. Through methods like Learning by Observing and Pitching In, Maya children work together as a community to build skills for contributing to their community.