In many cultures, particular where the informal economy and small household businesses thrive, the cultural tradition is that children follow in their parents' footsteps; child labour then is a means to learn and practice that trade from a very early age.
在许多文化裡，特别是非正式经济单位和小型家庭作坊里童工泛滥，其文化传统是子继父业；童工即是在早年就学习并实践劳动。