Neuroscience seems to have shaken up the knowledge about child development and the education put in place by some parents. But do you absolutely have to follow these studies to raise your children and be a good parent?
The influence of neuroscience on education
If the term “neuroscience” appeared in the 1960s, to designate the disciplines that study the nervous system, it is only since the 2000s and 2010s that it has attracted many parents, in the field of education.
“ Catherine Gueguen’s book “For a Happy Childhood” has revolutionized the world of parents », Esteem Nina Bataille, certified professional coach specialized in neuroscience and author of numerous books including I stop chasing time (ESF, 2023). “ It brought perspective to intuitive things that until then were questionable because they had not been demonstrated. This allowed us to provide evidence, even though we know that science is evolving. It is very interesting to understand how a child’s brain develops, that before 2 years there are no tantrums, but that then you have to put in place a structure. »
Because for the coach that’s the problem. Education in the light of neuroscience suffers from a misinterpretation, having confused caring education with lax education. “ For example, François Dolto never said that children should be allowed to do everything or that it is forbidden to forbid, but that the child is a human being in his own right and that physical violence must be forbidden. Olivier Morel introduced the notion of ordinary educational violence, but he never said that there is no need to provide a regulatory framework.. » specifies the author.
“ Of course we don’t let a child cry, we try to understand what’s wrong, but we don’t hold him in our arms all day, that’s not kindness. »
Nina Bataille
For Michel Vandenbroeck, doctor in educational sciences, it is not neuroscience that influences parents. “ We need to distinguish between neuroscience and its use by non-neuroscientists. According to neuroscientists, the conclusions of neuroscience on education are still very fewand their articles are critical of this use of neuroscience. »
In his latest work, Parenting in our neoliberal world (érès, 2024), Michel Vandenbroeck denounces this use of neuroscience, which adds a “ new level of incompetence » to parents, and a heavy responsibility on their shoulders. “ Because this is accompanied, for example, by talk about the first 1,000 days. It is an aberration, an unbearable burden, not everything is decided in the first 1,000 dayseven if it is an important period. » While criticizing their use in certain discourses on parenting, the author nevertheless specifies that neuroscience remains an important and beneficial science.
Has neuroscience helped to limit acts of abuse?
Discourses that blend parenting and neuroscience often speak out against acts of physical and verbal violence. Could these demands have helped banish physical abuse in families?
For Nina Bataille there is no clear answer to this question. “ I don’t think parents get up in the morning and say ‘Hey, I’m going to mistreat my sonWhat limits abuse are reports made by institutions (teachers, psychologists), or awareness on the part of the institutions themselves. But neuroscience helps freedom of speech and perhaps generates some awareness. »
As for spanking, which in the past could be brandished as an educational principle, it has been prohibited by law since 2016”. I don’t think neuroscience has contributed to this, it was already a limit not to be crossed for many people. But explaining the damage that this action can create to the brain, confirms that we are right when we don’t do it. » explains the coach.
Michel Vandenbroeck qualifies this statement. “ Neuroscience has shown us the devastating effects that cases of severe abandonment can have on the brain.. But we can’t deduce the same thing for the small moments of stress in everyday life, no serious study would make this connection, it would be an amalgam. Toxic stress damages brain development when it is prolonged, day after day, year after year, this is not the case in the small moments when you lose your temper and scold your child. »
Following neuroscience, a necessary condition for being a good parent?
“ A British poster extolled the benefits of cuddling babies, as it helps their synapses develop properly. But do we really need neuroscience to pamper our children? » comments Michel Vandenbroeck.
For the doctor of educational sciences, all parents try to do the best they can, in their context and circumstances. But he criticizes the scientific discourse for not taking into account these contextual inequalities, providing general advice to parents, which is constantly changing.
” ‘Well“it’s a judgment.”. » recalls Nina Bataille. “ There is no need to add to the guilt that is already there. We don’t necessarily need neuroscience to educate our children into stable, fulfilled adults.. But since they exist, it is interesting to find out. »
To better educate your children, is it absolutely worth buying books on the subject of parenting? Michel Vandenbroeck warns against the pressure that these books can exert on the individual responsibility of parents, obscuring the responsibility of public services and making parents believe that they are incompetent and that they need the intuition of experts. Advice to parents often has the effect of reinforcing their insecurity and sense of responsibility.. While these books are written with the best intentions, they backfire, reinforcing the idea that it’s all up to you.. »
For the coach specialized in neuroscience, it is always interesting to buy books, listen to podcasts, watch programs or follow workshops on parenting, but choosing only one school of thought, so as not to have too much contradictory information. You should stick to one or two books, you don’t have to read 10! I like to take people back to their roots, like Thomas Gordon, Elaine Mazlish, or Terry Brazelton, to name a few.. »
The two experts agree on one thing: Parents should not educate their children alone, it is an impossible task. “ It takes a village to raise a child, that’s my belief.. » assures Nina Bataille. “ In this village there may be some books, some trusted people, a doctor. Keep in mind that parenting coaches are useful for parents, but they are not trained to support children. For them you need to turn to pediatricians and psychologists. » Michel Vandenbroeck draws attention to the public effort that is increasingly lagging behind, as demonstrated by the crisis in early childhood care environments. We are moving toward commercializing parenting support with sleep, cleaning, and weaning coaches.. It is useful, but the State must offer services in which this responsibility can be shared, rather than making it an individual responsibility. »
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
