Approche sémiologique des jeux précoces dans l'interaction mère-enfant.

Abstract

Between the ages of 4 to 6 months, a baby seems to be able to ' interpret ' .many and varied maternal behaviors in an emotionally primitive way. The observation of a baby's behaviors shows that he acceeds to an ' active form ' of response which is, in turn, perceived by his mother and can lead the two partners to interactive playing, especially using tactile means. The playing patterns of these interactions which allow for and serve to contain ambivalance and aggressiveness cause the scope of the mother-child relationship to be renewed. In the first weeks the tactile and motor contacts coming from the mother are rarely truly playful. And yet there are elements present in varying contexts of what will become ritualized as game sequences which are shared with the child. Among these are rhythmic finger tip contacts, pressure differences, variations in distance and hyperstimulation to obtain a better quality of alertness from the baby. From the point of view of the mother's vocal production, there are repeated syncopated syllables and onomatopoeias accompanying a quick tap followed by a small laugh. As of the third week, the baby most frequently shows nociceptive type avoidance reactions while responding to steady pressure. He also shows facial orientation and smiles as well as body arching and tonic positions which sometimes accompany an arm outstretched to his mother. She may identify this reaching out as a call. Thus, very early on, self-protective reactions coexist with others which are more ambiguous and whose meaning the mother catches better and better as the baby develops and she uses them to renew, enrich and prolong his calls to her. The descriptive picture of their interrelations differs according to the context as well as to the synchronie and asynchronic aspects of the mother-child interaction. To understand this differentiation, it is necessary to give particular importance to the maturing of motor competency of the baby, to his capacity for anticipation, ajustment, acceptance and refusal.