Pas-à-Pas l’Enfant

Playing and telling stories : decisive activities for children’s development, away from screens

Today, screens occupy an increasingly significant place in the lives of very young children, sometimes from their very first months. Time spent in front of a screen often replaces experiences that are essential to early childhood development: language, storytelling, play, and meaningful human interaction. Founded in 2014 by Justine Fesneau, Pas à Pas, l’Enfant works directly with families and early childhood professionals in underserved communities to help children aged 0 to 6 grow and thrive beyond screens.

With a team of 32 staff members, including 22 trainers, the organization equips early childhood professionals and parents with the knowledge and tools to restore play and storytelling to their rightful place in young children’s daily lives. Its programs combine theoretical training on child development and cognitive growth with hands-on parent-child workshops that encourage meaningful interaction. Pas à Pas, l’Enfant also strengthens its impact through rotating toy libraries and children’s libraries, giving families and childcare settings ongoing access to high-quality educational resources. To ensure its programs remain grounded in the latest research and the evolving needs of children, the organization is supported by a scientific advisory board comprising speech and language therapists, a neuropsychologist, a psychomotor therapist, and an early childhood educator.

In 2024, the organization partnered with 22 municipalities across the Île-de-France region, enabling 575 early childhood professionals to receive training, 6,174 children to benefit from its programs, and 4,303 parents to participate in workshops alongside their children.

The Fund supports the expansion of the “Let’s Explore Our Stories” program (Promenons-nous dans nos histoires) as well as the organization’s broader institutional development.