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Dr Catherine Salinier (Pediatrician)
In his new investigative book “Les Ogres”, journalist Victor Castanet highlights the dysfunctions of private daycare centers, including cases of mistreatment. How can parents spot their child’s distress in time? We asked Catherine Salinier, a pediatrician and member of the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics (AFPA), the question.
After the Gravediggers, it’s time for the Ogres. Two years after the publication of his first shocking investigative book, in which he highlighted the excesses of the Orpéa group’s retirement homes, journalist Victor Castanet is making his big comeback with a particularly delicate subject: the early childhood sector, and more specifically private daycare centers, some of which are accused of “mistreat” children. But how can you detect the first signs of distress in a child? Catherine Salinier, a pediatrician and member of the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics (AFPA), has drawn up a list of signs that should alert you.
A “low-cost” strategy singled out
Babies left to fend for themselves, deprivation of food, humiliation, unchanged diapers… Journalist Victor Castanet reports numerous “excesses” in private daycare centers.
According to him, it is an entire system, irrigated by public money, which is failing: private daycare centers, starting with the People&Baby group, are in constant search of profit (in other words, by lowering their costs).
A “low-cost” strategy, which would have direct impacts on toddlers, from food to diapers, including abuse.
“In most daycare centers, things are going well. And the staff work with a deep commitment, often a lot of love for the children, and do it with little means, being very badly paid.“, notes Victor Castanet in an interview with AFP.”But besides that, there are abuses put in place at the headquarters of certain groups. There are cost optimization practices, which have harmful effects on the entire sector, where financial indicators, occupancy rates, will be favored over quality..”
If the new management of People&Baby affirms that the “practices described in the book are completely out of step with the values we hold today”, In Lille alone, in the People&Baby nursery in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, nine children were victims of mistreatment.
““Blows, scratches, punishments in the dark, humiliation, deprivation of food”specifies Victor Castanet. “These children still have regular nightmares, there have been developmental delays and socialization problems.“, he assures.
Victor Castanet also underlines in his book the inertia of the State, which “did not want to question its operation“. The overall model of private daycare centers, based on an hourly billing system, therefore seems to need to be rethought… even if – let us remember – incidents in daycare centers fortunately remain rare.
#PressRelease
We have read with indignation the excerpts from Les Ogres which highlight acts of mistreatment of young children. We condemn in the strongest terms the scandalous practices revealed which disregard the values of our profession… pic.twitter.com/ThZevnOKlU— French Federation of Daycare Companies (@Ent_de_Creches) September 16, 2024
While in the vast majority of cases, the reception of children in daycare goes smoothly, sometimes failures occur. In this case, Catherine Salinier, a pediatrician and member of the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics (AFPA), lists several signs of physical and psychological abuse that must be observed.
- “If you feel that the nursery is not welcoming, if the staff does not show interest or curiosity about your child’s life, be careful,” warns Dr. Catherine Salinier. This is a first element of suspicion.It is above all a story of feeling, connection and trust between the nursery and the parents“, adds the pediatrician.
- “Any sign of insecurity in the child should also raise concerns“. “If he cannot adapt, for example, within the structure or if he takes a long time to adapt, we can ask ourselves questions.“, the expert emphasizes. Another point, which should raise a red flag: “lack of progressive adaptation“, yet essential for the well-being of the little one.
- Afterwards, “If the child is agitated, nervous or not very smiley in the evening, if we feel that he has had a bad day, that he does not sleep enough for example, and that this is systematic, that is to say that this state persists over time, yes, we must worry“, says the specialist.
- Another sign of potential abuse: “If the child does not want to go to daycare even though he has been registered there for many months, or even years, it means that he may not feel comfortable there.“, the expert emphasizes.
- Finally, “Any persistent sleep, eating or behavioral disturbances should raise alarm bells.“, reveals Dr. Catherine Salinier, “especially if the weekends spent with their child are peaceful” and go smoothly.
“If you identify any of these signs, as a parent, the next step is to go and ask questions to the nursery staff. If they don’t want to listen, make comments about the child or those of others, or are aggressive, you can suspect a form of abuse, due to a lack of kindness.“, the pediatrician specifies, before continuing: “Nurseries nevertheless remain controlled by the Maternal and Child Protection (PMI), in the same way as childminders… whose seriousness must be recalled, for the vast majority of them“.
And in the event of proven mistreatment, who should you turn to?
The specialist invites the parents to obviously remove the child from the structure, but also to contact, in parallel, the Maternal and Child Protection (PMI). They are the ones who will continue the procedure.
Parents can also file a complaint against the nursery.
As a reminder : violence and excesses exist (also) in a family context (uncle, cousins and even malicious parents).
Choosing a nursery: what precautions should you take?
“It is above all a personal feeling. You can also ask advice from local residents, friends who already have children… But my only real advice remains: listen to yourself. To leave your child somewhere, you have to feel good and that feeling lasts, that this bond created with the staff grows and flourishes.“, notes Catherine Salinier, in conclusion.