SOUTH-AFRICAN CHILDREN IN THE YEAR BEFORE SCHOOL - TOWARDS A PREDICTIVE MODEL OF EVERYDAY BEHAVIOR

A predictive model of black South African children's behaviour is evaluated in the present study. Although variables in the model are of some predictive value, they are not as salient for the South African sample as has been found for children elsewhere. Rural versus urban differences appear predictive, though socioeconomic status, household crowding, and reliance on subsistence agriculture are less so. Most predictive of all was the specific community from which a child was drawn. The paper concludes that ecocultural variables exert considerable influence on young children's everyday lives in the developing world, but that traditional descriptors like urbanization or ethnicity may not be ideal.