Sparkle Crafts

DIY Courage Bracelets: Your Secret Superhero Power for the New School Year!

Ready to turn ordinary beads into extraordinary bravery-boosters? Let's craft some courage magic — the Sparkle Stories way!

Who's got the back-to-school jitters? We traditional-schoolers do! In some places in the U.S., school has already started, and in others it's around the corner. For all of us, it can be a lot of newness!

We created a craft for you — both for adults AND for children — to help you channel your inner superhero: DIY Courage Bracelets! (Lisabeth is wearing hers right now, and her kids are in college and beyond!)

Aren't these lovely? They're sweet tokens that your kiddo can wear to remind themselves that they've got more bravery inside them than a lion and all the strength of a superhero (and then some)!

What Makes a Courage Bracelet So Special?

Your child can think of their courage bracelet as their personal cheerleader that never leaves their sight, reminding them "Hey, I'm braver than I think I am!" It's like having a tiny confidence coach wrapped around their wrist:"You've got this!"

Gather Your Bravery Supplies

Essential Materials:

• Elastic beading cord (stretchy string works, too)
• Assorted beads in their favorite colors (Lisabeth picked shades of blue and turquoise for our example because they are her fave)
• Letter beads to write out words of courage
• Scissors
• Small bowl to keep beads from rolling away (trust us on this one)

Bead Ideas for Maximum Courage Power:

• Red beads: For strength and determination
• Blue beads: For calm confidence and clear thinking
• Yellow beads: For sunshine happiness and optimism
• Green beads: For growth and new adventures
• Purple beads: For creativity and magic
• Letter beads: Spell out "BRAVE," your name, or other encouraging words
• Charm beads: Lions, hearts, stars, or anything that makes you smile

Pro tip: Raid your pre-existing craft stash or visit the local craft store for a treasure hunt! Thrift stores often have old jewelry that can be upcycled for this purpose too.

Step-by-Step Courage Creation

Step 1: Set Intentions Before your kiddo starts beading, have them take a deep breath and think about what courage means to them. Maybe it's raising their hand in class, making new friends, or trying something new. Or think about people or animals that inspire them. Have them hold that thought close and narrow it down to a few words. Here are some of the words that WE came up with when crafting our own Courage Bracelets — perhaps they might help guide some of yours!

• I am brave
• Unstoppable
• Right here
• Believe
• Lion
• Raaawr
• U R Loved
• Joy
• Adventurous
• Don't Wait

Step 2: Measure Cut the elastic cord about 2 inches longer than your child's wrist measurement. Better too long than too short — you can always trim the excess!

Step 3: Choose Courage Colors Have your child pick beads that speak to them most! There's no wrong choice here. Maybe they love rainbow patterns, or perhaps they're drawn to calming blues and greens (like us!). A gentle affirming thing they can say to themselves, or that you can remind them of is:"Trust your instincts."

Step 4: Start Stringing Have them start threading their beads onto the cord and incorporate their courage word (or words if you're doing multiple bracelets). Let them do it themselves! Handwork is an excellent exercise in fine motor skills, and the act of creating brings natural feelings of joy for all of us.

Step 5: Seal the Deal Once they've got about 6-7 inches of beaded beauty (or whatever fits comfortably around their wrist), tie the ends together with a strong double knot. Trim the excess cord, and voilà – they've created their very own courage companion!

Supercharge Your Bracelet's Powers

Want to make your courage bracelet even more powerful? Try these fun ideas:

Create a Courage Ritual: Every morning before school, have your child put on their bracelet and say three things they're grateful for or excited about that day. Pro tip: try our Sparkle Affirmation cards to help guide this practice!

Make Matching Sets: Have them craft courage bracelets with friends or siblings! When they are apart, it will be a beautiful reminder that they are always connected and supported.

Add New Beads: Throughout the school year, they can also add special beads to commemorate brave moments, new friendships, or exciting achievements!

Storytelling Beads: Assign each bead a mini-story or memory.

The Science of Courage (Kid-Friendly Version!)

Here's a cool secret: courage isn't about not feeling scared – it's about feeling scared and doing something anyway! Courage bracelets serve as what psychologists would call an "anchor" – a physical reminder that helps the brain remember positive thoughts and feelings. Every time your kid sees or touches their bracelet, they are actually training their brain to be braver. How amazing is that?

Has your child made their own courage bracelet? (Or have you?) We'd love to see them! Be sure to tag us in your creations @sparkle_stories on Instagram or you can email them to us directly at hey@sparklestories.com and tell us about their/your brave moments — we'd love to hear from you! Remember, every small act of courage deserves to be celebrated!

Looking for more courage support? our Courage topic include 31+ collections and over 58 unique audio stories all about being courageous! Just press play and see if they don't help guide you with a brave heart into the new school year (and beyond!)

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This blog post was a collaborative effort from the Sparkle Team. It was reformatted slightly with the help of Claude.ai