When It Rains, We Paint: Art Therapy for Hurricane Season

They were supposed to be at the pool. Instead, they picked up brushes and found peace in the storm. This is what art can do. Calm. Connection. Confidence. One color at a time.

I had the perfect day lined up for The Gathering Place summer camp. We were going horseback riding at the Enchanted Forest in the morning, having a picnic lunch, and ending the day at the pool. Everybody was ready. Bathing suits packed. Snacks loaded. We were going to have a time.

And then boom. It rained. And rained. And rained.

Plans canceled. Kids disappointed. We had to pivot to our rain plan. So we headed to the art barn. It is a cozy creative space we are lucky to use, thanks to one of our amazing community partners. I pulled out supplies, turned on some music, and told the girls, “Let’s make magic.” The shift in energy was immediate. The room got quiet. The girls opened up. Some created full stories. Others painted their feelings. It was calm, connected, and powerful.

Art is more than paint and paper. It is a lifeline. Especially during hurricane season—when the world feels out of control and kids do not have the words for what they are carrying—art gives them a way to release, reflect, and reconnect. You do not need to be an artist. You just need to show up. I will show you how.

What Is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a mental health practice that uses creative expression—drawing, painting, collage, sculpture—as a way to explore emotions, process trauma, reduce stress, and improve self-awareness. It is used by licensed therapists in clinical settings, but the truth is, you can bring the heart of it into your home.

Children are not always able to name what they feel. But their hands often know before their words do. Art becomes the translator. A red storm across the page might be anger. A tiny sun tucked in the corner might be hope. You do not need to analyze it—you just need to make space for it to come out.

And yes, it is for every child. Not just the “artsy” ones. Not just kids in crisis. Art therapy is for kids who need quiet. Kids who need connection. Kids who are feeling too much or not sure what they are feeling at all.

At home, art therapy-inspired activities can include:

• Drawing emotions using colors, lines, or abstract shapes

• Journaling with art instead of words

• Creating self-portraits or “safe place” scenes

• Making worry dolls, calming boxes, or gratitude collages

• Using clay or playdough to show tension or relief

• Simply coloring in silence with a parent nearby

Remember - You are not doing therapy. You are offering emotional safety through creativity. That matters just as much.

Art Therapy Ideas by Age Group

Ages 4 to 7: Let It Be Messy

- Draw a giant “feelings face” and decorate it with different expressions

- Use finger paints to make rainstorms, sunshine, or swirls of emotion

- Create a worry box from a shoebox. Let them draw their worries, fold them up, and place them inside

Ages 8 to 11: Build Confidence and Language

- Make emotion collages using magazine cutouts

- Paint a picture of their “safe place”—real or imagined

- Create a comic strip about getting through a storm or solving a problem

- Assign emotions to colors and let them express their daily mood using that palette

Tweens and Teens: Give Them Tools, Not Pressure

- Create a digital mood board on Pinterest or Canva

- Try blackout poetry using an old newspaper and a black marker

- Use watercolors or pastels to map emotions without words

- Start a visual journal: one page a day, no rules, no judgment. Just let them get it out

Art and Technology Can Work Together

- Use stop-motion apps like Stop Motion Studio to create short animated clips

- Take themed photo walks and document “storm prep,” “cozy corners,” or “calm in chaos”

- Try digital drawing apps like Procreate, Sketchbook, or Google Jamboard for collaborative family creations

- Let older kids explore AI art generators and ask, “What would peace look like to you if it were a picture?”

Set the Vibe with Music

- Weightless – Marconi Union

- River Flows in You – Yiruma

- Sunflower – Post Malone and Swae Lee

- Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson

- Lo-fi chillhop or acoustic playlists on YouTube or Spotify

- Instrumental versions of songs your kids already love

A Quick Shopping List to Get You Started

Pro tip: The Dollar Tree on SW 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale has everything. Grab a basket. You will not regret it.

- Crayons and markers

- Watercolor paints and brushes

- Construction paper or blank sketchbooks

- Glue sticks

- Safety scissors

- Old magazines or newspapers

- Stickers, stamps, or washi tape

- Modeling clay or playdough

- Shoeboxes (for worry boxes or gratitude chests)

- Headphones for music

Best Practices for Art Therapy at Home

- Start with safety, not structure

- Let them lead

- Say less. Watch more.

- Stay alongside them

- Do not interpret

- End gently

Where Art and Heart Come Together

The science backs what many of us already know in our gut—creative expression helps children regulate emotions, process stress, and build resilience. Studies have shown that art-making lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), improves mood, and supports brain development tied to empathy and problem-solving. For children living through unpredictable seasons—like hurricane season in Florida—these tools are not extra. They are essential. At The Gathering Place, we treat creativity as a core part of learning. Not just something to do on a rainy day, but something we build into how our girls grow. Art, journaling, movement, and reflective work are woven into our rhythm because they help our students feel safe, seen, and strong. That is how healing begins. And that is what real learning looks like.

One More Thing

If your child is feeling anxious, withdrawn, overwhelmed, or extra sensitive during hurricane season, art can be one of the safest and most effective ways to support them. You do not need big words or big plans. You just need a few supplies, a gentle attitude, and the patience to sit with whatever comes up.Let them express whatever they need to get out. Scribbles. Storm clouds. A quiet yellow sun in the corner. All of it belongs here.

You are not just helping them survive the storm. You are teaching them how to stay steady in it. That is the power of art. That is the power of presence. That is the power of parenting through the hard stuff.

Want to see this in action or learn more about how we use art at The Gathering Place? Visit www.TGPLearningLab.com or follow us on Instagram @tgplearninglab. You can also text (786) 301-2444 to book a visit. We would love to meet you.