The Power of Play | Ash Perrin | TEDxJacksonville

Summary

Ash Perrin shares the transformative power of play, music, and games in helping children overcome trauma and crisis. Through his work with The Flying Seagull Project across 23 countries, he demonstrates how simple activities like 'Duck, Duck, Goose' and playful songs can rebuild confidence, foster joy, and even spark communication in children who have faced immense hardship. From refugee camps in Europe to children with learning difficulties, Perrin emphasizes that play is not a luxury but a vital human right. By encouraging creativity, laughter, and imaginative exploration, he illustrates how play can heal, inspire dreams, and shape resilient, hopeful futures for young lives in crisis.

Takeaways

• 😀 Play can be a life-saving tool, even in the most extreme crisis situations.
• 🎵 Simple games and songs can help children express themselves and overcome trauma.
• 🌍 Ash Perrin and his team have worked with over 115,000 children across 23 countries, using play to support those in crisis.
• 🗣️ Personal connection through games can encourage communication, as shown when a non-speaking child began talking after participating.
• 🏕️ Refugee camps, like Idomeni, require not just physical support but emotional and psychological care through play.
• 💪 Play helps children release stress, regain confidence, and experience joy, even in unsafe or traumatic environments.
• 🧠 Childhood play supports imagination, social bonding, and helps children explore their identities and future aspirations.
• 😂 Laughter and clown therapy have scientifically proven benefits, reducing anxiety and improving recovery in medical and trauma settings.
• 🎨 Access to play is a fundamental right for children, not a luxury, and should be included in crisis care strategies.
• 🌱 Encouraging play fosters hope, resilience, and personal growth, shaping children into adults capable of creativity and innovation.
• ❤️ Moments of playful encouragement from adults have long-lasting impacts on a child’s sense of self and value.
• ⚡ Everyday play, even outside crisis contexts, strengthens connections, joy, and perspective on life for both children and adults.

Q & A

Who is the main speaker in the transcript and what project did they establish?

The main speaker is Ash Perrin, a performer, clown, and founder of The Flying Seagull Project, which focuses on using play and performance to help children in crisis.

How many children and countries has Ash Perrin and his team worked with over the past decade?

They have worked with more than 115,000 children across 23 countries over the past ten years.

What is the significance of play in crisis situations according to Ash Perrin?

Play provides children in crisis with emotional relief, joy, social connection, and the opportunity to regain a sense of childhood, which can be life-changing and even life-saving.

Can you describe the story of Stefan and its importance in the talk?

Stefan, a young man who had not spoken for 7–8 years due to learning difficulties, began talking after participating in a simple game led by Ash Perrin. This story illustrates the profound power of play in helping children express themselves and heal emotionally.

What challenges did children in the Idomeni refugee camp face, and how did play help them?

Children in Idomeni faced trauma, danger, lack of education, and stress from living in a crowded, unsafe environment. Daily play sessions, games, and songs helped them release tension, regain confidence, and experience moments of joy and normal childhood.

What role did laughter and humor play according to the transcript?

Laughter and humor, such as through clown therapy, have been scientifically shown to reduce anxiety, relieve stress, and aid recovery, making them an effective therapeutic tool for children in crisis.

Why does Ash Perrin emphasize the right to play as a universal childhood need?

He emphasizes that childhood is not a luxury but a right, and all children, regardless of circumstances, should have access to playful, imaginative, and safe experiences to support their development and emotional well-being.

How does play contribute to children’s personal growth and future aspirations?

Through play, children explore emotions, try out roles, strengthen social bonds, and dream about future possibilities. These experiences help form the foundation of their confidence, identity, and potential to innovate as adults.

What example does the speaker give of a childhood dream leading to world-changing innovation?

Ash Perrin cites Boyan Slat from Holland, who as a child imagined and later created an artificial coastline that cleans ocean plastic, demonstrating how encouragement and imaginative play can lead to impactful solutions.

What is Ash Perrin's final message to the audience regarding play?

Ash Perrin urges everyone to embrace play in daily life, play together, and encourage play for children, emphasizing that play can transform lives, foster hope, and develop potential in ways beyond conventional education or material comfort.

How did Ash Perrin and his team adapt play activities for large groups in crisis zones?

They used simple, fast, and accessible games like 'Duck, Duck, Goose' or 'Quack, Quack, Woof,' which allowed hundreds of children of different ages to participate and release stress, ensuring activities were inclusive and manageable in challenging environments.