PARENTS of young children are encouraged to take up free activities in the city as bushfires displace many families and smoke forces others indoors.
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Wagga Regional Family Day Care manager Kym Stewart said the bushfires have caused sudden stress and perhaps trauma for many families in the Snowy Valley communities.
Partnering with Kurrajong Therapy Plus, Ms Stewart said they have organised informal play sessions at the botanic gardens for Thursday and Friday from 10am to noon to give families a safe, fun escape from the overwhelming challenges impacting them at the moment.
"We noticed families hanging around hotels and coming to the evacuation centre for supplies ... and those little children get bored easily and sense things are different," she said.
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"[These play sessions] are a place for families to connect and talk about what they're going through and fill in their days."
Tumbarumba evacuee Fiona McGrath is staying in Wagga with her three sons until they get the all-clear to return home.
The McGrath family moved from Cairns to Tumbarumba in December, but before they could spend their first night in their new home they were evacuated.
She said the big move combined with the bushfire made the past couple of weeks difficult, which her children had started to notice. "It is worrying us, so it is worrying them and they have been playing up a bit because it's a stressful time," she said. "The kids just needed to get out of the house and have a little play."
Mrs McGrath said she appreciated the free activities because it gave her somewhere to go and do something normal during a stressful period for her family.
Wagga City Council's list of suggestions for this week include a swim at the Oasis Aquatic Centre, which has free entry to evacuees.
The council also recommends a visit to the library, art gallery or the Museum of the Riverina Historic Council Chambers Site. There is also hands-on art activities at the gallery's Dinoland Playspace on Saturday between 10am and 2pm.