In this study the characteristics of stimulation practices and developmental practices in an indigenous Maya community from the state of Sonora and Sinaloa in the northwestern part of Mexico have been evaluated. Two groups of 50 mothers each: the first group, which we will call ethnic resistance, spoke the Mayan language to their children and participated in a non-schooled educational program of development stimulation. A second group of mothers which we will call ethnic assimilation did not speak the Mayan language and didn't belong to the initial educational program. It was accomplished by the application of interviews to mothers with the scales of psychological development for children ranging from 0 to 5 years of age. The results indicate that the non-speaking population and without the initial education (ethnic assimilation) present low frequency in the range of developmental problems and home stimulation of the child, compared to the speaking populations and with initial education (ethnic resistance). We conclude for an intercultural model of initial education for an indigenous population.
Childrearing stress; Maya ethnicity; Intercultural education; Child development
