In her captivating TEDx talk, “Why Adults Need Play Too,” Bhavna Purswani compellingly argues for the crucial role of play in adult life. She explores how societal norms often dismiss the value of play, confining it to childhood while undermining its significant benefits for adults. Purswani presents a compelling case that play fosters creativity, enhances problem-solving skills, and promotes mental well-being, providing a necessary counterbalance to the stresses of adulthood.
Through engaging anecdotes and research, she illustrates how play can rejuvenate our spirits and strengthen social connections. The talk encourages adults to embrace playful experiences, whether through hobbies, games, or spontaneous adventures, as a means to boost happiness and resilience. Ultimately, Purswani invites her audience to reimagine play as an essential component of a fulfilling adult life, advocating that it’s never too late to rediscover the joy and freedom that comes from simply having fun.
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Author Video Description
What if the key to solving burnout, anxiety, and disconnection isn’t found in more therapy, but in something we abandoned in childhood? This deeply personal and research-backed talk reveals how a simple fort-building session with a 6-year-old nephew led to a radical discovery about healing. Bhavna challenges our cultural belief that “serious problems require serious solutions” by exploring the science behind play as resourcing and resilience building. Through vulnerable storytelling and groundbreaking research from play scientist Dr. Stuart Brown, she demonstrates how adults who rediscover play show significantly lower stress levels, stronger relationships, and enhanced resilience.
Want to apply the research from my TEDx talk? Sign up for my 7-day play challenge here (https://mailchi.mp/b059664e9b99/7-day-play-challenge), 5 minutes a day, easy, actionable prompts, and a fun, new, low-maintenance but high-impact way to think about healing. Bhavna is a registered mental health counsellor and naturotherapist who specializes in supporting Third Culture Kids, neurodivergent individuals, and 2SLGBTQ+ clients through culturally responsive, trauma-informed care. She holds an MA in Counselling (accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy), a Certificate in Somatic Attachment Therapy, and is a member of the Canadian Professional Counselling Association. After a decade of traditional practice, Bhavna discovered an unconventional truth: our most serious problems often require our least serious solutions – a revelation that began when her 6-year-old nephew interrupted her workday to build a fort. This playful interruption sparked the breakthrough that revolutionized her approach to healing and human resilience. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
About TEDxTalks
TEDx is an international community that organizes TED-style events anywhere and everywhere — celebrating locally-driven ideas and elevating them to a global stage. TEDx events are produced independently of TED conferences, each event curates speakers on their own, but based on TED’s format and rules.
Video “Why adults need play too | Bhavna Purswani | TEDxSherbrooke Street West” was uploaded on 08/08/2025 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks