Children's health and play in rural Nepal

A study of morbidity and mortality in a peasant village in Nepal describes chronic malnutrition and endemic infectious disease. More than one-third of village children between the ages of 1 and 5 die. Those who survive apparently pursue a spontaneous strategy of maximizing their physical growth potential by minimizing the expenditure of energy in play. This raises the possibility that psychological, social and motor development is impaired. It is found, however, that while less time and energy is devoted to play, the pattern of play that does occur is similar to that of healthier peasant children in other times and places. It is therefore probable that maturational levels of attainment are not impaired, but it is urgent that this assumption be further investigated.