How were children viewed in hunting and gathering societies?

In hunting and gathering societies, children were primarily viewed as valuable workers contributing to family income. This perspective recognizes that from a young age, children participated in various tasks, whether it involved gathering plant foods, assisting in hunting, or learning vital skills for survival. Their contributions were essential to the family's subsistence and well-being, allowing the family unit to thrive in a resource-scarce environment.

The idea that children might be seen as economic liabilities due to their consumption of resources overlooks the practical realities of these societies. Children were integrated into daily tasks and learned the skills necessary for their future roles. Thus, while they required care and resources, this did not negate their value as active participants in the economy of their families and communities.

Therefore, the notion that children were economic liabilities is not representative of how they were perceived in these societies, where their involvement was crucial for survival rather than seen solely through the lens of resource consumption.