For a year, the little ones have been facing masked adults. However, to build themselves, they need to see the expressions of the faces. Early childhood professionals are worried. They tell us why.
“My baby does not have the same reactions to masked and unmasked people. This is the observation made by Juliette Delaporte, when she observes her 12 month old child. “I have heard other parents say the same thing before. “Observations that have caught the eye of many early childhood professionals. Speech therapists, psychologists and even nursery nurses warn about the effects that wearing a mask can have
“The first thousand days are essential, for his development but also for the overall health of the adult he will become,” says a report by Boris Cyrulnik entitled The First 1000 Days, where it all begins . He adds that this period “contains the premises for the health and well-being of the individual throughout life”. Clearly, the development of the child is played between 0 and 3 years.
“Emotions, language”
“It is important that a child sees our face. It is through the movement of the lips and face that he will learn the transmission of emotions, language… And it also allows babies to recognize people, ”explains Laetitia Stanislavski, pediatric nurse.
However, for a year, these newborns have constantly faced masked people, and therefore hidden faces. “For babies under 8 months old, if an object is hidden, it doesn’t exist. So behind the mask, the face does not exist ”, explains Anna Cognet, clinical psychologist. “The crèche represents around 40 hours a week. 40 hours in front of masked people. How can we imagine that it does not impact the baby? », Asks Laure Pradelle, speech therapist and member of the Parol’84 association.
“New behaviors and less reactive children”
Field observations are final. Laetitia Stanislavski and her colleagues notice “new behaviors and less reactive children”.
Understanding between adults is complicated with a mask. Between babies and adults, it is even more so. According to the results of her study, Marie-Paule Thollon-Behar, nursery psychologist and doctor in psychology, affirms that “children do not see who is speaking. The professionals must raise their hands. They have less understanding of guidelines and limits. At certain times, they are forced to lower the mask to be obeyed ”. She also notes that there is less repetition, but it is through repetition and imitation that the child learns. “We even have children who cry when the nursery nurses take off the mask. So there is an emotional impact. “
“75% of professionals who responded to our survey claim to remove their mask,” reports Marie-Paule Thollon-Behar. When they lower their masks in times of canteen and songs, the children pay much more attention. There is a lot more participation and interaction. Which means they waste a lot the rest of the time. “
More and more evidence
Several studies carried out in France in 2020 and in China during the SARS pandemic of 2003, confirm the impact of the mask on the development of babies.
Anna Cognet, who is studying the problem today, testifies: “A few years ago, we had to wear a mask to take care of a child in neonatal intensive care. He had developed developmental delays. He stopped feeding when it was not his mother who was giving him. He could only make out her. After a full examination, specialists concluded that the mask was responsible. “It was only for a month or two. Today, the children have been putting up with this for a year. “
Yet, in the common opinion, these young children would adapt perfectly. “In the beginning, people were mainly concerned that the children were afraid. But we suspected that this reaction would pass, ”says Célia du Peuty, clinical psychologist, consultant in clinical ethics.
Transparent masks were not unanimous
Even if the doubts persist, “why take the risk”, early childhood professionals and some parents wonder. They want real studies to be launched, and appropriate measures to be put in place.
The transparent masks proposed by the government were not unanimous. “The professionals have found that they are not suitable, because the foams obstruct the field of vision and there is especially the problem of condensation”, explains Laetitia Stanislavski.
“We’re a bit stuck. We can see that there is an impact, but we cannot say to remove the mask. On the other hand, studies show that children are not contaminants, ”explains Marie-Paule Thollon-Behar. Laure Pradelle wonders: “We may have to review the balance between benefits and risks”. To reassure moms and dads, it is obvious that at home, we take it off and play and interact with our little one. With more and more people vaccinated, he will increasingly be entitled to multiple smiles too
