At the age of seven, Maasai boys traditionally have the top of their right earlobe pierced signalling the taking on of more responsibilities such as looking after older calves and herding cattle with the rest of the family. The next stage for Maasai children is at the age of sixteen or seventeen when the lower lobes of both ears are pierced in a ceremony that augurs a new period when they take on sole responsibility for cattle and moving herds.

Shortly after Maasai boys are circumcised; a rite of passage that then allows him to decorate himself with olive branches and carry a quiver. Around this time Maasai girls are dressed in black robes and a leather decoration is put in her pierced ear lobe.

Living a nomadic lifestyle presents challenges for the education of Maasai children although an increasing number of them are eager to attend education. This is made all the more difficult because schools are so far away from their communities and, whilst some Massai children do undertake secondary education, few have the opportunity to attend college.

While at school, they learn English and Swahili, however their native language, Maa, is still spoken at home. Obviously when they are at school they cannot perform their expected, traditional duties so such attendance is rarely encouraged and the situation is even worse for girls as there is a clear expectation that, on growing up, they will marry and live with their husband's kin without need for any skills outside domestic duties and child-rearing. (Culturally, Maasai girls normally are offered by fathers to marry older men to marry, often when they are between the ages of twelve and fourteen.)