Asmodee joins the French High Commissioner for Childhood Conference

Can board games help children learn and grow? 

This question was at the heart of “Learning Through Play” (Apprendre par le jeu), a conference organised by Sarah El Haïry, French High Commissioner for Childhood, as part of the Enfance en débat initiative. 

Held in Paris on June 18, 2026, the conference brought together researchers, education experts, public institutions and representatives from the toy, game and EdTech industries to explore the role of physical and digital play in children’s learning and development. Asmodee was invited to contribute its expertise in board games and research on play.

For us, it was an opportunity to share a conviction that has guided our work for years: board games are more than entertainment. They can also be meaningful tools for learning, social interaction and child development. 

Play as a learning environment 

The conference highlighted the many skills developed through board games. 

Playing helps children learn how to: 

• Follow rules and wait their turn 

• Manage their emotions and frustration 

• Cooperate, negotiate and consider other people 

• Develop their attention, motor skills and reasoning 

A game therefore becomes a safe space for experimentation, where children can try out different behaviours and prepare for situations they may encounter in everyday life. 

The example of Dixit Kids

At the conference, Léa Martinez, PhD, Research manager at asmodee and cognitive psychology researcher associated with the University of Poitiers, joined Inès Othmann, Head of Studio from Space Cow and Asmodee Kids, to demonstrate this approach through Dixit Kids.  

Using the game as a practical example, they explored how playing can engage executive functions—the cognitive processes that help children direct their attention, hold information in working memory, adapt their thinking and regulate their behaviour.  

Adults also play an essential role in making these benefits accessible. Parents, teachers and other professionals can accompany children during play and encourage them to reflect afterwards: Why did you make that choice? How did you feel? What strategy worked? What could you try differently next time? 

These conversations can help transform an enjoyable moment of play into an opportunity for reflection and learning. 

Playing to connect 

The discussions also addressed issues such as empathy, representation, gender, mental health and bullying at school. Play can help open up conversations around these topics and foster stronger connections between children. 

At home, at school or in public spaces, playing together is first and foremost a way to spend quality time. Learning how to win, lose, wait or negotiate: all these experiences help children grow. At asmodee access+, we believe that play should remain an accessible, inclusive and essential part of every child’s development.