For Fun's Sake... The Right to Play, Part 2. (Ash Perrin and The Flying Seagull Project)

 

This is a logo from The Flying Seagull Project. I LOVE IT! We should make coffee mugs with this saying, to remind adults about Fun!

Last week I wrote about my friend Guillaume and The Right to Play. Guillaume returned from Ukraine a couple of weeks ago, and now he is headed to Jordan to continue to enforce The Right to Play with refugees there. He had gone to Jordan in 2013 with a group called The Flying Seagull Project, which was started by Ash Perrin. (Edit correction: Guillaume just informed me, he was in Jordan in 2013 with Patch. He has done several trips with The Flying Seagull Project, just not what I had referred to. I apologize for the misinformation). Guillaume shared an article with me that was written by Ash, and that sent me down a little rabbit hole of sorts. A really fun rabbit hole I might had. Just another way Guillaume enforces The Right to Play... sending ME down fun rabbit holes! With Ash's permission, I am now going to share that article with you along with other videos and information from The Flying Seagull Project. I will be adding my thoughts as well, so I hope you enjoy this trip down my rabbit hole of fun.

Ash and friends performing for refugees in Jordan

Ash and his friends in The Flying Seagull Project work tirelessly to encourage, enforce, and invoke The Right to Play. In his article titled "Play and the art of playful communication" he brings up several important elements of play and some key components on how to utilize those elements. He starts with a simple, yet profound statement on play...

"Play is the indigenous language of the child, and it is the simplest language                                                                  there is!"

I agree wholeheartedly with these words. I will add that we all started as children, so play is also indigenous to adults as well. Adults have just complicated the language a bit with expectations and adult experiences. Some of lost the ability to speak the language, while others are just no fluent in it anymore due to lack of use. However, I believe every adult can re-learn the language of play or at least learn how to utilize play again with some education and the willingness to let go of inhibitions. I say we should do it for our kids' sake AND For Fun's Sake! I like how Ash has simplified it even further by saying...

"The most valuable thing you can ever offer a child is “you”: mistakes, doubts and clumsiness included."

That is what play does in the end. It allows you to offer yourself to a child or another human being for that matter, with mistakes, doubts and clumsiness included! Don't you agree? Well, I will let you read Ash's full article now. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts and what you might be doing to help encourage, enforce, and invoke The Right to Play with your kids, neighbors, and beyond!

https://www.theflyingseagullproject.com/2023/09/02/play-and-the-art-of-playful-communication/

The Flying Seagull Project performs anywhere kids are willing to show up.

Below is a link to a 2-minute video that tells what The Flying Seagull Project is all about. It has some inspiring footage in it and is well worth two minutes of your time. I personally love how Ash states...

      "If you are lonely, and someone connects with you...  you are                                                                less lonely."

I would also like to encourage you to pay extra attention to the boy who speaks at 1:13

                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2JGLFruUpA

Day or Night, The Flying Seagull Project wants to play!

I don't want to just bombard you with videos, but this next video is a newer version about the beliefs of The Flying Seagull Project. I whole heartedly agree with what they do and the message they are trying to convey! I especially like how Ash states...

"Play isn't a luxury. It is a part of development. It is a part of life. It's the best part of life. And these children don't just deserve it, they have a right to it". 

He nailed it for my blog. They have a RIGHT to it. Meaning they have A Right to Play!!! So, I encourage you to spend two more minutes watching one more video... and then go out and PLAY, because you too have The Right to Play!!!

                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJU5CET1JJA

Adults encouraging a child in her Right to Play!

Well, hopefully you went out and played a bit after watching that last video. Then you came back to finish reading my blog, right? 😃

Or maybe you trudged on through and read the rest of my blog before you went out to play. Either way, I do hope you got out to play today and encouraged others to do the same! To finish things off, I wanted to close with the last few sentences of Ash's article. You know, the one from the beginning of my blog post... you did read it didn't you? I believe the point he makes with these last few words is... No matter who or where you are... No matter what YOUR circumstances are... YOU can make a difference in encouraging the Right to Play for other people! 

"Whether you are on a distant board somewhere, advising on content for exercise books in schools, or on the front line of social care, remember that you have the ability, and arguably the responsibility, to use the fire and pure energy of your heart to encourage and light the paths of others.

You are the inspirers, the magic-makers, the knowledge-sharers and soul-lifters. Always remember that you can and must make a difference to every life you touch.

Go forward and pour such passion into your work that the world is brighter for it."

Now Go Out and Play... For Fun's Sake!!!

                   Oh, and Go Out and Hug Someone in the Process!!!