Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans

Acomedido is a Spanish term that describes a child’s attentiveness and willingness to help without being asked. In Hunt, Gather, Parent, Doucleff highlights this concept through her experiences with Maya families, where children naturally assist with household chores, guided by observation and a sense of contribution rather than reward or coercion. Doucleff explains that Maya parents cultivate acomedido by allowing young children to help, even when their contributions are imperfect, thereby fostering intrinsic motivation and competence. The term is central to the theme of Parenting as a Cultural and Collaborative Practice, illustrating how children can develop a natural inclination toward helpfulness when included in family life.

Alloparents are secondary caregivers who provide love, guidance, and support to children outside of their immediate parents, such as extended family members, neighbors, or community members. Doucleff stresses the importance of alloparents in hunter-gatherer societies, particularly among the Hadzabe, where child-rearing is a collective responsibility. She refers to this network of caregivers as a “circle of love” (278), emphasizing how alloparents contribute to emotional security and social development. Doucleff contrasts this communal approach with the isolated nuclear family model prevalent in Western societies, arguing that alloparenting reduces parental stress, enhances children’s social skills, and fosters a sense of belonging.