In this chapter we compare the behavior of mothers to their own infants at three to four and nine to ten months of age in five of the societies described in the previous chapters-namely the Gusii of Kenya, Yucatec Mayan of Mexico, Italian, Swedish, and suburban Bostonian. Mothers and infants were observed naturalistically at home. To explain the differences in frequencies of maternal behavior, we examine the demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts of infant care in these societies, asking: Is maternal behavior adaptive, and if so, to which aspects of the environment? Previous ResearchDuring the last decade, several observational studies comparing mother-infant interaction in culturally diverse samples have been published (Leiderman, Tulkin, and Rosenfeld, 1977;Field, Sostek, Vietze,

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Current theoretical and practical conceptualizations in the field of early childhood special education are limited in their attention to the sociocultural context in which development occurs. This article argues for a paradigmatic shift away from the individualistic models of development and learning to a social constructivist model that stems from views of learning and development first articulated by Vygotsky and since expanded upon by Rogoff and others. Such a shift is supportive of the current press for more inclusive classroom practices through an emphasis on the sociocultural context, the role of social activity—including instruction—in learning, and the contributions of learners to their own development. Principles for inclusive early childhood practice are explicated based on the concepts of classrooms as communities, learning as socially mediated, curriculum as contextually relevant and problem based, and assessment as authentic and personally meaningful.

Thejield of child development is too closcb tied to thejield of psychology and should include a variety of cultural perspectives.

Dual-income couples who share child care were compared with traditional couples in which the wife takes primary responsibility for the children. Couples who reported that they shared child care were found more likely to have a male first-born, compatible work arrangements, and similar levels of income than were traditional couples. They were also more likely to feel that their relationship was egalitarian and that the division of labor in the household was satisfactory.

An examination of Italian parents' goals and childrearing practices illustrates the role of culture in maintaining practices that are no longer serving an obvious adaptive function.

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