Children playing the role of interpreter for their parents - from parentification to parentalisation
Type de matériel :
66
Children of migrants are often more comfortable than their parents in the language of the host country and can therefore act as interpreters within the family. However, this may lead to a reversal of parent/child relationships with the related consequences. 13 protocols were conducted with children aged 8 to 14. These involved drawing the family and taking part in semi-directive interviews accompanied by visual aids and figurines to help the children express their feelings and their perception of family dynamics in varying situations. Analysis of the results gave a series of indications relating to traumatic parentification, including the fear of not being up to the task, feelings of injustice, depreciation of the parents, fraternal conflicts and non-recognition of their efforts and skills in translating. Signs of more positive functional parentalisation, such as pride or a sense of maturity, were always associated with experiences of gratitude or congratulation. These results call for awareness among professionals and parents as to the importance of showing signs of recognition for child interpreters while also how this role reversal may play out.
Réseaux sociaux