This paper discusses the history of child-upbringing practices in Tanzania and how these have changed with the historical changes that the country has undergone. After a look at the pre-colonial societies where child-upbringing was a collective responsibility of the society, the paper shows how this pattern changed with urbanization and individualisation of society through colonial days to the present. The author comes to the conclusion that the breakdown of that collective child-upbringing is at the root of the social problems that face the children, and that it also has laid unnecessary burdens on the biological parents She poses the question as to whether there is anything that can be done to restore this collective responsibility, even though it will not be in its original form. But the author also notes that no substantial changes can be made to the existing situation without altering the socio-economic conditions in the society at large. Notes.