This paper presents data from an observational investigation of 80 African children
growing up at home in the year before school. Data cover aspects of social
interaction, language use, activity patterns, and object utilisation. Gender
differences are examined, and results are compared with those from observational
studies of Euro-American children of similar age. These data provide baseline data
on black South African children, about whom relatively little has been published,
and offers insight into the everyday lives of preschool-aged children from the
developing world.
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