The Preposterous Human childhood – A longish sojourn

• Dr. J Mukhopadhyay*

Abstract

Human children are born immature, physically underdeveloped and continue childhood for longer duration than other earthly primates and mammals. Scientists posited that grant for time and energy to usher the brain development with complex sensory-motor neuronal functions culminated in long progression of growth in the young children of our ancestors that assisted in development of coping skills to adapt complex social functions, effective communication, and meeting environmental challenges. Role of evolutionary anthropology, altricial parenting, immature child birth being bi-pedalic, family oriented socialization and acculturation appear to have immense contribution in extension of human childhood long. Slow development in children is directly related to the emergence of human social and cultural complexity that a child needs to learn.

Keywords

Anthropology,Evolution,Family acculturation, Socialization