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"A child’s silly act which was for a long time associated with an act linked to his immaturity could now today only be understood as a symptom of a trouble belonging to the DSM-5 classification or to self-punishing behaviour in the classic neurotic model of psychoanalytical psychopathology. While these explanations still remain pertinent, there are other forms of silliness, interactive silliness and silliness out of curiosity. The former respond to the young child’s vital need to attract the attention of people close to him. The latter belong to a form of disobedience and contain a part of curiosity and discovery ; they show choice and define the possibility even of freedom. The author puts forward examples taken from three or four generations of parents/children ..."