On 17 September 2026, the Bremerhaven Correctional Facility in northern Germany hosted its third Game with Mum and Dad (GWMD) event of 2026, bringing together four imprisoned fathers and eight children for an afternoon of play.
Facilitated by two professionals from Hoppenbank e.V. and a member of the prison staff, the event offered families something that can be difficult to find in the context of prison visits: time to slow down, enjoy one another’s company and focus on their relationships.
The special afternoon brought an unusual sense of light-heartedness to the correctional facility. Several fathers were able to welcome their children for an afternoon of play together, spending a few hours with one another, far removed from the usual routine of prison life.
The joy was palpable on both sides right from the moment they arrived. After the initial greetings, it didn’t take long for any initial shyness to fade away. The children chatted away, proudly showed off their skills and wanted to spend as much time as possible with their fathers. For the fathers, it was a precious opportunity to give their children their full attention and share moments of closeness.
There was plenty of variety on offer that afternoon. The hula hoops were especially popular and quickly turned into a little competition. Who could keep it going the longest? Who could spin the hoop the fastest? Amid ambitious attempts and lots of laughter, it quickly became clear that having fun together was what mattered most.
Families were also able to get active together at various activity stations — building, throwing, solving puzzles or playing small games. Fathers and children came together, tried something new and cheered on each other.
“That was the best time I’ve had in 2 years. No time pressure. The hours go by so fast.”
— imprisoned father
In between, there was plenty of time for quieter moments. Together, they played games, drew pictures and solved little puzzles. This led to many personal conversations—the kind that often get little attention during the usual routine of visits. It was precisely these seemingly small moments that made the afternoon especially meaningful for the families.
For some of the children, one thing was most important: simply spending time with their dad. Laughing together, trying something new, showing each other things or winning a game together—things that seem ordinary outside a correctional facility took on a whole new meaning.
“I loved the fact that that I got to spend 3 hours with my family.” — imprisoned father
When the afternoon finally came to an end, saying goodbye was understandably difficult. The time spent together had flown by. What remained, however, were many wonderful impressions and memories of a day focused not on the conditions of imprisonment, but on the relationship between children and their fathers.
An afternoon that showed just how precious time spent together can be—especially when it cannot be taken for granted.
