Playing on the floor at the child's level has been our signature from day one: "reimagining the art of family life on the floor, comfortably settled at your child's level".
And that's exactly why we designed our life mat as a surface adapted to baby's motor development as well as to family moments of togetherness. Because at their level, you see life differently — giving them your full, undivided attention.
So we asked Gaëlle Ribière, our favourite psychomotor therapist and founder of Éveil et Conseil*, who speaks better than anyone about our very reason for being: floor-level play with children.
Why is playing on the floor with your child so important?
First and foremost, being on the floor allows the child to discover how their body connects with the ground and to truly know their own body — the foundation of good motor development.
Moreover, getting down to your child's level means recognising them as a fully individual person — you're showing them that they truly matter.
It's a bit like giving them a voice — like giving them the right to make their own choices. It helps them feel secure and positions them as an active participant in their relationship with the grown-up.
I also love to talk about that eye-to-eye gaze that arises in those shared moments on the floor — it is truly foundational for the child's development and sense of self.
Where and how to play at your child's level with a baby?
You can play just about anywhere, as long as the child is safe, of course. In the kitchen, the living room, the bathroom...
On the floor, things are often at their simplest — even more so when you're on a comfortable mat!
Babies don't particularly need to play or keep themselves busy — but they do need interaction, connection, and getting down to their level makes for a much deeper sense of closeness.
It's also a moment of pause for the grown-up — a chance to be fully present and connect with their baby. So the mat may as well be welcoming enough to give parents a proper place to land!
How do you keep floor-level play engaging as your child grows? Does the floor remain the best place?
A child's play space evolves with each stage of motor development. For a young baby, for example, the play area can be condensed to about 20 cm from their face — they won't necessarily need more than that. But as they grow, they'll move around more and need a larger space.
This growing space is also what gently separates the child from their parent, offering them more choice and freedom. In fact, it is both a physical and a psychological space. The child pushes their boundaries little by little as they grow.
For an older baby, you can place small toys on a low table or stool at the end of the mat, so that baby has to cross the mat to reach up and grab them. It's a perfect answer to their need for movement at that stage!
And at any age, physical play is always a great idea (tickles, the "aeroplane" game)!
Do you need a lot of space to play at your child's level?
What matters most, to my mind, is that the parent genuinely enjoys being on the floor with their child — and that means being comfortably settled. That comfort allows them to stay close, body to body with their little one for longer, nurturing that precious bond of attachment.
We often think about the child's comfort (rightly so!), but the parent's comfort is just as important for truly quality moments together!
As the child grows, the play space will expand too. When they're exploring crawling on all fours or stretching their reach, more room is needed. So having a comfortable surface that grows with your child and adapts to your needs — that's just ideal!
*Éveil et Conseil is a collective of healthcare and early childhood professionals.
They are passionate about keeping you informed on your child's healthy development and supporting you in your parenting journey. On their website www.eveiletconseil.fr you'll find plenty of detailed, practical content on motor skills, development, language, emotions, milestones... In short, everything you need to feel reassured as a parent!
