Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us about Raising Children

What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us about Raising Children

By: Michaeleen Doucleff

In this ground-breaking book, Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff looks back to our ancestors for solutions to our failing modern-day parenting theories.

When Dr Michaeleen Doucleff became a mother, she examined the studies behind modern parenting guidance and found that the evidence was frustratingly limited, and the conclusions often ineffective. She began to wonder if an opposite approach was needed – one founded on traditional wisdom, like the knowledge and experience passed down over hundreds, even thousands, of years within ancient cultures.

With her young daughter in tow, she travelled across the world to observe and practice parenting strategies alongside families in three of the world's most venerable communities: Maya families in Mexico, Inuit families above the Arctic Circle, and Hadza families in Tanzania.

Dr Doucleff soon learned that these cultures don't have the same problems with children that Western parents do. Most strikingly, parents build a relationship with young children that is vastly different from the one many Western parents develop, built on co-operation instead of control; trust instead of fear; and personalised needs instead of standardised development milestones.

In Hunt, Gather, Parent, Doucleff introduces us to families where parents help little ones learn to control their emotions and reduce tantrums by the parents themselves controlling their own frustrations; foster self-sufficiency by safely giving kids the autonomy to manage risks and explore their limits; and motivate children to help with chores without using bribes or threats. Doucleff also talks to psychologists, neuroscientists, anthropologists, and sociologists and explains how the tools and tips can impact children's mental health and development.

Packed with practical takeaways, Hunt, Gather, Parent helps us rethink the ways we relate to our children, and reveals a universal parenting paradigm adapted for modern families.

Critic reviews

My jaw was practically dropping at every page turn. I just couldn’t believe what I was reading! I was desperate to try it out on my own kids: Ali Maffucci, NYT bestselling author of Inspiralized and Inspiralize Everything

Parents will find Doucleff’s curiosity contagious and guidance encouraging: Publishers Weekly

This book was a breath of fresh air- it clearly identified the parts I was struggling with… and then showed ways to help build a system that could work for me: Readable Moments

A new take on parenthood

An eye opening study/documentary of 3 different communities, their parenting style and its effect on thier their children, in traits like confidence, calmness, helpfulness, responsibility and relationships. Offers very actionable insights for day to day parenting that is more enjoyable, much less stressful and improves child development and parent-child relationship.

I really like it! It opens my mind

I learned how to raise my baby as a part of our family instead of living my life in order to give her everything that she wants.. she will be part of our family team..

It’s great to hear another view on parenting

If you search for answers in how to parent in a different way, this book makes you think! I can’t wait to try it out! De

Great perspective on parenting

Fantastic book with very useful parenting techniques and ideas. Would love the audio book to come with a contents page which links to the minutes of the book.

Great advice, terrible narration

As stated above, I have nothing else to say. Nevertheless I learnt a ton, but this should be rerecorded.