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Maasai Child Maasai children, like all children, love to play. Young girls play with dolls made from mud or with jacks made from stones or berries. Boys and girls sometimes play together; their favorite games are hide-and-seek and playing grownups. Molding the children's characters is a communal activity. While still young, children are given minor chores like herding lambs, goat-kids, and calves, but they are not seriously reprimanded if they neglect them. They are encouraged to behave well in the presence of elders or anyone older who might render punishment, for anyone in the community may punish a child who has done wrong. Punishment might take the form of a verbal rebuff or spanking. On the other hand, a child who performs good deeds, such as taking proper care of the lambs or goat-kids or helping anyone in the community, will be rewarded -- perhaps with some milk or a good piece of meat. Respect is taught early in life in Maasailand. The child is taught to call all elders "Father" and all women "Mother." When our Land Rover stopped, we negotiated payment to take pictures with the engang elder. The children stood strong, looking all of us in the eyes as they learned from us as much as we learned from them. |
