Toys as Teachers: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Object Use and Enskillment in Hunter–Gatherer Societies

Abstract Studies of cultural transmission—whether approached by archaeological or ethnographic means—have made great strides in identifying formal teaching and learning arrangements, which turn can be closely aligned with models social learning. While novices apprentices are often focus such studies, younger children their engagement material culture have received less attention. Against the backdrop a cross-cultural database ethnographically documented object use play 54 globally distributed foraging communities, we here discuss ways make tools toys. We provide inventory objects for hunter–gatherer adolescents. find that child adolescent linked to adult culture, albeit not exclusively so. Toys were primarily handled outside explicit pedagogical contexts, there is little evidence formalised apprenticeships. Our data suggests children’s self-directed interactions objects, especially during play, has critical role early-age enskillment. Placed within niche construction framework, combine perspectives on offer an improved frame reference how varies across early human life history what may this process. our analysis improves systematic understanding relevance among societies, also case more detailed studies context ethnographic, archival transmission research.