The Spartans had a sadistic setup. I actually studied this, feel free to implement into Dwarf Fortress, in fact, consider this a challenge.
They'd be taken away from their family from as young as 8, and put in the barracks. At this age, they were kept with boys their age, but the strongest boy was assigned to be the captain. This boy was incredibly harsh.
One of the greatest feats a Spartan boy could accomplish was to succeed at the Festival of the Cheeses. Basically a stronger boy about 14-18 was given a whip, and would force the other boys through a complicated obstacle course where there would be cheese at the end whilst whipping him as forcefully as he could the entire time.
Spartan boys about 13 onwards would be drafted in special killsquads by the politicians, lets call these the nobles. They would be given a spear and shield and used as assassins, to kill escaping slaves, hunt for wildlife, and to basically scare the shivers out of anyone who would rebel against them.
How about that for a Spartan day care? Spartan boys would think a danger room IS daycare. Kiddy killsquads.
And, how about this factual information. They were reverse dwarves. Spartan warriors were to be clean shaven at all time. Huge chins are manly. If a Spartan had run away from battle they would basically kick the man out of government; no voting, and no participating in special events. And people would spit on him in the street. AND NO SHAVING.
So they left the Spartans and that's where dwarves came from.