Sensorimotor Behavior of Baganda and Samia Infants

Previous research has demonstrated that Baganda infants of Uganda are comparatively advanced in their rate of sensorimotor development. This finding of precocity has been replicated in a number of African societies, giving rise to the "African precocity" issue. The present study reports data on smiling, sitting, and crawling skills for the Samia of Kenya. These data are compared with Baganda and U.S. norms to show that an understanding of the African precocity issue is enhanced by taking into account the adult sociocultural order, societal values, and specific childcare practices conceptualized as an interrelated system. The present data are also considered in terms of a biocultural, ecological perspective which represents an alternate interpretation of precocious infant development.