Every child has a superhero inside them — and we're not talking about capes and masks! We're talking about those incredible moments when they find the courage to face their fears, try something new, or stand up for what's right. That can be especially true as we venture into a new school year, when certain little fears and anxieties can bubble to the surface.

Enter our Tell Your Story of Bravery Comic Strip Activity! It's a perfect blend of inspiration, reflection, and artistic expression that has the ability to transform your little one into both the hero AND the author of their own courage story!

To begin, we invite you to download the Draw Your Own Sparkle Courage Comic Strip printable activity sheet.

Once downloaded and printed we encourage you to select a story from our Courage topic that speaks to your child ... and then watch the magic unfold!

The Steps

Step 1: Download the printable and print it out, using a slightly thicker that standard paper weight, if you can. Gather up your favorite drawing materials — pencil crayons, crayons, markers, or whatever medium your child prefers most

Step 2: Select your favorite story from the Sparkle Courage topic and press play!

Step 3: After the story is complete, prompt your child to think about a time that they too were courageous like the characters from the story. You can use the supplied sheets to jot down when that time was!

Step 4: Have them draw out that time in a comic book strip using the template pages we have provided — or have them make their own! Let their imaginations run wild.

Step 5: Once complete, take some time to reflect on that brave and courageous moment.

Step 6: Pin or tape the comic strip somewhere accessible — their bedroom wall, a bulletin board, the fridge. Find a location where their comic strip can remind them daily just how courageous they truly are!

Our Experience

My five-year old son Ollie is a pretty sensitive and highly-feeling kid. He's also a bit of a worrier. We recently had to take him for a visit to the doctor, which was a very nerve-wracking idea for him. To set him up for success, we listened to the Martin & Sylvia story "A Trip to the Doctor." In this story, Sylvia conquers her fears of getting x-rays for the first time by using an imagination game which makes her feel more brave and relaxed! Just like Sylvia, Ollie conquered his fears and ended up being very brave about the experience. "I didn't even cry!" he exclaimed after the visit.

So when we sat down to try our hand at this printable courage comic activity, I asked him "When was a time that you felt brave?" and he immediately responded, "When I went to the doctor and got a shot and didn't cry!" So we re-listened to the Martin & Sylvia story "A Trip to the Doctor" and let that inspire his creation!

Ollie is also a BIG fan of pirates (and thus, a huge fan of Sparkle Stories' Windward Ho! series). After we listened to the Martin & Sylvia story and talked about how brave he was during his visit to the doctor, it was fascinating to watch his imagination transform that experience into a young pirate's visit to the doctors office. Ollie's story continued with a voyage on the high-seas ending in discovering some hidden treasure and then being embraced and cheered-on by all his fellow mates! Not only did Brave Ollie the Pirate conquer his fears of the doctor, but he was cheered on for his efforts!

Once we had completed the activity, Ollie thanked me for doing it with him! He enjoyed the process and it made him feel GOOD! And thus, it made me feel good too.

What Makes This So Special?

Our Courage stories aren't just any stories – they're specifically designed to showcase different types of bravery that kids can relate to:

• Standing up to a playground bully
• Trying out for the school play despite stage fright
• Speaking up when something isn't fair
• Facing fears of the dark, monsters, or new situations
• Being kind when others aren't
• Going to the doctor

As your child listens, they'll meet characters who face real challenges with genuine courage.

Here's where the magic really happens! Once the story ends, the printable will then guide your child through a gentle reflection process:"A Time I Was Courageous Was When ... ?" Maybe they helped someone who was sad, or tried something that scared them, or they told the truth even when it was hard. Watch as their eyes light up when they realize they've been a hero in their own life! This isn't just storytelling – it's confidence-building in action.

Now comes the really fun part! Using our specially-designed printable comic strip template, your child gets to:

Plan their panels: Break down their courage moment into 4-6 comic frames

Draw their story: No artistic perfection required – stick figures tell amazing stories too!

Add dialogue: Use the dialog bubbles provided. What did the character say? What did they think?

Include sound effects: POW! WHOOSH! GULP! (Kids LOVE this part!)

Create their ending: How did their brave moment turn out?

Why Comic Strips Are Perfect for Building Courage

Visual Storytelling Builds Confidence

When children see their own experiences laid out in comic form, something powerful happens. They begin to view themselves as the protagonists of their own stories – capable, brave, and resourceful.

Sequential Art Develops Problem-Solving Skills

Creating a comic strip requires kids to think about:

• Cause and effect
• Beginning, middle, and end
• How problems get resolved
• The importance of taking action

Creative Expression Reduces Anxiety

Drawing and storytelling provide a safe outlet for processing experiences and emotions. It's therapy disguised as play!

Perfect for Different Learning Styles

• Visual Learners: Love creating the pictures and seeing their story unfold
• Auditory Learners: Benefit from the initial story-listening and can add their own narration
• Kinesthetic Learners: Enjoy the hands-on drawing and comic-creation process
• Reading/Writing Learners: Excel at crafting dialogue and story structure

Getting the Most Out of Your Courage Comic Activity

Before You Begin:

• Choose a quiet, comfortable space for story-listening
• Have art supplies ready: crayons, markers, colored pencils — whatever medium your child prefers for comic-making!
• Print your comic strip template on sturdy paper

During the Activity:

• Let your child lead the reflection (Tip: don't rush to fill silences! Let them come to these conclusions on their own)
• Celebrate ALL courage moments, big and small
• Ask open-ended questions: "What made that moment brave?" "How did you feel?"
• Resist the urge to "fix" their artwork – it's about expression, not perfection

After Creation:

• Display their comic proudly!
• Share it with family members (with your child's permission)
• Create a "Courage Comic Collection" for multiple activities
• Use it as a bedtime story – reading their own brave adventures!

Ready to Get Started? If you haven't already, download our free Draw Your Own Sparkle Courage Comic Strip printable and watch your child discover their inner superhero – no cape required! Remember: courage isn't about being fearless – it's about feeling afraid and doing the right thing anyway. Help your child see that they're already braver than they know!

Looking for more creative activities that build character and confidence? Explore our full collection of story-based printables and activities over on the Sparkle Stories blog.. We also suggest listening to these bravery and strength building Storybox Playlists too:

Stories of Courage: Five Audio Stories for Kids About Bravery

Storybox Playlist: Stories of Strong Girls

Because every child deserves to see themselves as the hero of their own amazing story.

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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