Family Fun
February 21, 2025
This year’s wildfires in California have left many families feeling devastated, displaced, and disoriented. During challenging times, it’s easy to focus on what has been lost or changed. But even in the midst of uncertainty, small moments of joy can serve as revolutionary anchors, helping families heal, grow, and strengthen their bonds. Finding joy doesn’t have to be grand or complicated. You can embrace simple, achievable activities that bring connection and comfort. Here are a few ways to create meaningful, positive experiences and build resilience as a family.
Gratitude can transform our perspective, shifting our focus away from difficulties to finding joy in our everyday lives. Give each family member a notebook dedicated to gratitude journaling. Set aside five minutes daily for everyone to write down at least one thing they’re grateful for. You can also introduce weekly themes such as “acts of kindness” or “memories that make us smile” to encourage deeper reflection and keep the practice fresh. Celebrate these moments, ask open-ended questions, and allow space for everyone to listen and feel heard.
Practicing gratitude regularly helps change a family’s mindset, promoting a sense of hope and appreciation even during difficult times.
Art can be a powerful way to process emotions, build self-esteem, and nurture creativity, especially when words feel inadequate. Encourage each family member to draw or paint how they feel on a certain day. Listen to or make music together using homemade instruments. You can also make models using playdough and toys. Creating art together fosters connection and provides a gentle way to navigate emotions while embracing creativity.
Nature offers a sense of solace, grounding us in the present moment and reminding us of life’s simple wonders. A family nature walk is a great way to enjoy fresh air, movement, and mindfulness. You can make it extra fun through the addition of a scavenger hunt, with examples like finding something soft, a unique rock, listening for bird calls, etc. Another idea is to give every family member a sketchbook or camera to capture moments of nature to cherish together. You could also consider adding a community aspect by bringing small trash bags to pick up litter along your route, teaching environmental responsibility.
In times of uncertainty, creating a family vision board can be an uplifting way to focus on dreams, goals, and shared aspirations. Gather supplies like magazines, newspapers, colored markers, stickers, and glue. Have each person contribute one short-term and one long-term goal (whether it’s learning a new skill, planning a family trip, or practicing daily acts of kindness). Assemble the board together, ensuring each family member’s dreams are represented. You can display the vision board in a common space as a daily reminder of your family’s collective hopes and progress.
By creating a tangible representation of your family’s future, you reinforce the belief that healing and joy are possible, no matter the circumstances.
Amidst life’s challenges, it’s the small moments of connection that truly matter. Healing happens through the bonds that you nurture daily. As parents, you can write small notes of encouragement and hide them in lunchboxes, backpacks, or under pillows. It is equally as important for parents to reconnect with one another which is why Bumo has launched the Table for Two initiative. This program is designed to give parents that have been displaced from their homes by the LA fires the opportunity to dine for free at a local restaurant (with supplementary child care completely covered by Bumo).
This extra effort, no matter how big or small, reinforces love, security, and resilience within the family.
Healing doesn’t require monumental changes, but rather, it thrives in the small, consistent moments of joy, gratitude, and connection. By embracing these simple activities, your family can create new traditions that honor the past while looking forward with hope. In the end, it’s not about erasing hardships, but about finding light and strength in the everyday moments that bring your family together.
