25 June 2025 – Fresnes, France — On June 25, the Fresnes Penitentiary Center, just outside Paris, hosted the second French event of Game with Mum & Dad (GWMD), an initiative designed to strengthen the bond between children and their imprisoned parents in a meaningful and child-friendly setting.
Held over two hours in the prison courtyard and organised by the NGO Relais Enfants Parents IDF, the event offered a rare moment of play and laughter in an environment that is usually perceived by children as rigid and intimidating.
The heart of the event was a football match, where 12 imprisoned fathers played alongside 21 children in a friendly, celebratory game. After the match, fathers presented their children with signed mini European Champion Cups, echoing the excitement of Paris Saint-Germain’s recent Champions League victory and giving their children something tangible to remember the day. Adding to the festive atmosphere was performance artist Johnny Moon of La Compagnie Eclectic, whose clownish parade, live music and balancing acts amused both children and parents.
Children also took part in a drawing workshop, and families shared refreshments at a snack bar, turning the event into a rare shared afternoon of joy and normalcy.
Why Game with Mum & Dad matters
While the day was filled with fun moments, the underlying mission of Game with Mum & Dad is an important one: to support the rights and wellbeing of children with imprisoned parents, and to help maintain strong emotional bonds despite the barriers created by imprisonment.
The event is based on the Bambinisenzasbarre model, developed in Italy and promoted across Europe by Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE). This model centers on the child’s right to maintain regular, quality contact with both parents, including those in prison, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (20.11.1989).
Traditional prison visiting procedures — often brief, tightly controlled and emotionally taxing — do little to meet children’s needs for nurturing, reassurance and genuine connection.
GWMD addresses this gap by creating play-based spaces within the prison where families can interact more naturally. Events like the one at Fresnes allow children to see their parent as a caring, present figure — not just an imprisoned person — and give parents the chance to reconnect with their roles as mothers and fathers.
Though short in duration, the impact of GWMD events is long-lasting. They offer a more humane and restorative vision of what prison can be: a place not only of custody but also of responsibility and reconnection.
