Letting children play without screens

Screens are everywhere. We all know it. Sometimes, popping on a cartoon while you get dinner sorted or sneak in a warm cuppa feels like a lifeline. And that’s okay. No guilt here.

But every now and then, something magical happens when little hands step away from the screen and into the world of real play. No flashing lights. No noisy buttons. Just toys they can hold, move and turn into whatever their imagination dreams up.

Making room for real play

Children don’t always need big noises and bright colours. Sometimes they just want to pretend, to copy what grown-ups do, or to make up something completely bonkers that only makes sense in their world. And that’s brilliant.

Give them a wooden kitchen and suddenly it’s a café, then a bakery, then a pizza place for dolls and dinosaurs. A tiny doll’s bed might turn into a rocket ship, a hospital, or a pet hotel. This kind of play doesn’t follow rules or fixed outcomes. It grows with them, changes daily, and gives space to just be.

The right toys make all the difference

Some toys ask children to sit still and watch. Others say, “Come on, have a go!” That’s where Petite Amélie comes in. Our toys are made with love and care, built to invite your child into the story, not just press play.

No batteries. No plastic clatter. Just beautiful wooden kitchens, benches, doll’s beds and storage that blend into your home like they’ve always belonged. Because they fit in so naturally, play becomes part of everyday life rather than something that needs to be tidied away the moment guests arrive.

Nature: the best playground of all

A garden, a patch of grass or the local park holds endless treasures. Fallen leaves, a wobbly stick, a snail slowly making its way across the path. There’s so much to spot and so many questions waiting to be asked.

Kids tend to move more when they’re outside. They run, jump, spin, tumble. They come home with muddy knees and rosy cheeks. You don’t need fancy kit, just a little time, some patience and maybe a snack or two.

Even slow moments count. Lying on a blanket, watching the clouds float by, can become a story they’ll remember later.

Learning without realising

Real play teaches all the best things, without ever feeling like a lesson. Counting pretend biscuits becomes maths. Naming colours, sorting shapes or making up voices for teddies builds vocabulary. Hosting a tea party? That’s early social skills.

The best part is that they’re in charge. They decide what happens, make up their own rules, change their minds, and try again. That’s how confidence grows, not by always getting it “right”, but by exploring, experimenting and learning along the way.

A little corner of their own

You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect playroom. A small table and chair, some baskets and a shelf they can reach is more than enough. When children know where their things go and can start playing without help, it gives them a real sense of independence.

Petite Amélie pieces are made to fit into real homes. They’re sturdy, beautiful and thoughtful, created to grow with your child and support play in a gentle, open-ended way.

The kind of play we remember

Ask any grown-up what they played with as a child and it’s rarely a screen. It’s the blanket that became a superhero cape, the cardboard box that turned into a rocket, or the toy kitchen where dinner was always two wooden tomatoes and a biscuit.

These memories last because the child made the rules. They built the world, changed it as they pleased, and found joy in the ordinary.

Giving them that freedom doesn’t mean stepping back entirely. It’s about gently guiding, offering the right tools, and then giving them space to explore and create in their own way.

And who knows, you might just get to finish that cup of tea while they do.