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Nurseries, maternal assistants and educators now have a ban on exposing children under 3 to screens. But the measure is already widely applied, ensure the professionals, who point to other priority projects.
Extinction of fires. Since Thursday, July 3, “It is prohibited” to early childhood professionals “To exhibit a child under 3 in front of a screen (smartphone, tablet, computer, television) given the risks for its development”according to a decree of the Ministry of Health published the day before. This initiative is added to those already taken by the various governments of Emmanuel Macron to protect children from the negative effects of screens. What was already “Not recommended” therefore becomes “forbidden”. Cricks, maternal assistants, will young children’s educators have to review their practices?
Absolutely not, ensure several professionals interviewed by Franceinfo. “This decree is completely mind -blowing”Cyrille Godfroy tranche, general general of the National Union of Professionals of Early Childhood (SNPPE). “There are already almost no screens in the crèches, and if there are any, it is especially so that the staff can return their observations on children throughout the day and communicate them to parents”insists the early childhood coordinator within a community.
“It really concerns a tiny minority of crèches, many have already banned mobile phones since the 2015 bee law.”
Cyrille Godfroy, Cosecretaire General of the National Union of Professionals of Early Childhoodin franceinfo
The union official concedes that“There is surely still pedagogy to do with certain professionals”. “I read on social networks that some crèche personnel use their phone while they give the bottles or watch the naphe confides. During the bottles, it is problematic, we agree, but to avoid falling asleep yourself while the children sleep, it has nothing to do. “
Among maternal assistants, the situation is slightly different. “I do not see how we can ban a maternal assistant from having a television at home”Tackle Julie Marty Pichon, co -chair of the National Federation of Educators of young children (Fneje). “Let it be extinguished when there is a child, it is obvious, we did not wait to set up recommendations that we all know”Add this school teacher in kindergarten.
“Yes, there may be less good reception places, but in a very anecdotal way”Insists the activist within the collective not baby at the instructions, faced with the testimonies of parents and other professionals who describe different situations. For Julie Marty Pichon, this text “Still stigmatizing an early childhood profession already very abused, coming to explain to us that we hurt our work”.
“It is a rustin policy: we take the problems by the little end of the Lorgnette to make a communication stunt, instead of responding to the institutional abuse that we denounce.”
Julie Marty Pichon, co -chair of the National Federation of Educators.in franceinfo
Estelle, maternal assistant in Seine-et-Marne, abounds in the same direction: “Limiting the ravages of screens in toddlers is a good thing, but at home, no screen is already on when the children are there.” The professional concedes it: “East know childminders who sometimes put children with a little cartoon. But we are still generally very aware. What seems complicated to me is: how to control that this text is respected? “
“We are not going to send us the gendarmes every day to verify that we do not turn on TV!”
Estelle, maternal assistant in Seine-et-Marnein franceinfo
“Professionals have already integrated the importance of this vigilance in the face of screens, and the minister shows them all her confidence”replies the Ministry of Health in a press release Posted Wednesday afternoon. “Their role is essential to support the implementation of this measure and (…) advise and support parents, so that this practice continues at home and all places”Add Minister Catherine Vautrin.
“Perhaps we will dare to tell parents who give their children a phone that it is very not recommended, and even forbidden with us”Imagine Florence Gauthier, maternal assistant and departmental secretary of the professional union of maternal assistants and family assistants (spamaf) in the Yvelines. Because she underlines, “It is rarely professionals who give children their phone”.
“That the parent who has never put his child in front of a screen five minutes to have peace throws me the first stone”Slides Estelle. But the maternal assistant believes that it is necessary “Awareness of parents to limit screens at home”and call for “Better support from parents, including in prenatal”. “We must develop parenting support servicesPress Cyrille Godfroy, And make parents understand that meeting professionals to talk about their difficulties is neither taboo nor dangerous. “ “The problem is when the smartphone becomes a bit of the child’s nanny to have peace, in public transport or the waiting room at the doctor for example”Pointe Julie Marty Pichon, regretting that the subject is not “A real public health issue with massive prevention campaigns”.
Health insurance “will send parents of children under 3 to educational information (Who) will offer clear benchmarks on the use of screens according to ages “announced the press release from the Ministry of Health. “This step is only the beginning” with a view “To equip families, professionals and communities with simple, visible, protective rules”insists Catherine Vautrin.
Before prohibiting screens, there are many other burning files that representatives of the early childhood sector would like to see treated. “We are still waiting for the government on the heat wave in crèchesunderlines Cyrille Godfroy. Some structures go up to 35, even 37 ° C. “ “We always have 10 000 missing positions in early childhood, while the observation dates from 2022 “also insists the union official.
Julie Marty Pichon denounces a lack of investment in prevention campaigns on sexual violence against children, in the manner of the Scandinavian countries, as well as a recent reform of social work training which standardized the courses despite their very different audiences. “We are fighting for worthy working conditions and decent receptionBut it costs money “sighs the representative of educators of young children. “This decree costs nothing, and the government will be able to congratulate itself. But it is insignificant.”
