AS CRIAN AS PEQUENAS SOB UMA BOA GUARDA. SMALL CHILDREN IN SAFE CUSTODY

As limita es profissionais e de tempo dos pais, as possibilidades institucionais e sociais na guarda e no cuidado das crian as pequenas levaram os sociólogos a redefinir as “idades” da pequena infancia: 0-2 anos, a creche; 2-3 anos, o “jardin d’éveil”3; a partir dos três anos, a escola maternal, à qual devemos acrescentar a guarda em casa e, para as classes mais ricas, a empregada doméstica. A partir deentrevistas com pais, E. Plaisance mostra que os interessados ressaltam a liberdade de escolha (mesmo quando as ofertas s o raras) e refor am o tom da evidência de que a solu o tomada era a melhor para eles e para a crian a. Mas as respostas mostram também que eles buscam se informar, segundo meios que favorecem o “boca a boca” e que d o lugar aos fen menos do rumor. De fato, a “escolha” dos atores é determinada, mas como para se tranquilizar e assumir suaresponsabilidade, eles a descrevem voluntariamente como “livre”.Due to the constraints of parental work schedules, the institutional and social opportunities in minding and caring for young children have grown. This has led sociologists to redefine the 'ages' of early childhood. These are: 0-2, the crèche, 2-3, the kindergarten and from three years old on, play school. To this must be added home care with a child-minder for wealthier classes. Based on interviewswith parents, é. Plaisance shows that those involved put freedom of choice first (even when the choices are rare) and the weight of evidence underlines that the solution arrived at was the best for them and their child. But the responses also show that they try to inform themselves by ways that favor word of mouth and giveroom for rumor and hearsay. The 'choice' of those involved is constrained, but as if to reassure themselves and to show that they are assuming their responsibility, they willingly describe it as 'free'.