Home
/ Mom / Baby / Paternity leave: the neurological development of the child is at stake, according to this doctor
A forthcoming reform should make it possible to extend paternity leave, which is currently considered far too short. On the side of science, we note that the presence of the father with the child during his first days of life plays a determining role in his neurological development.
Even if this practice is not yet anchored in our society, the place of the father with a young child remains nonetheless very important. Until now, this was not taken into account enough, but things are likely to be changing. Adrien Taquet, the Secretary of State for Children and Families, is expected to propose a plan to extend paternity leave when the new school year begins. Currently 11 days, to which is added three days of birth leave, it should now last one month and be compulsory for all.
A role to play in neurological development
For the child, having his father with him would bring only positive effects according to science. Guest on RTL, Boris Cyrulnik, neuropsychiatrist and member of the Commission on the "1000 first days of the child", which will inspire the reform to come, it is obvious. "What is at stake (during the first 1,000 days) is neurological development, he explains. Studies have thus shown "a very clear improvement in the functioning of the couple and the development of the child", in countries where paternity leave exists. As a reminder, in Nordic countries, such as Norway for example, paternity leave (also called "paternal quota) can last up to 15 weeks. During this period, fathers receive their full salary, a very encouraging argument. .
Still according to the neuropsychiatrist, paternity leave would not only bring benefits to the child and the couple, but also to the father himself. "When the father intervenes, he secures the mother and makes his mark in the development of the child", he indicates. Even if there is still progress to be made, we are slowly but surely getting closer to our neighbors to the north (far ahead), and that's good!