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Comic Strip Studio

Child plans panels and draws an original comic with a beginning, twist, and resolution.

Cartoon illustration of a parent and child at home: child plans panels and draws an original comic with a beginning, twist, and resolution.
  • Age7 to 12 years
  • Time30 to 60 minutes
  • EnergyCalm
  • CostFree
  • WhereIndoors
  • PrepNone

Your child plans out a short comic across a few panels, then draws an original story with a beginning, a surprise in the middle, and an ending.

How to do it

  1. Ask your child what their story is about in one sentence and who is in it.
  2. Have them fold or rule a sheet into 4 to 8 panels.
  3. Talk through what happens in each panel, making sure there is a start, a twist or surprise, and an ending, and let them pencil rough boxes.
  4. They draw the pictures and add speech bubbles or captions in each panel.
  5. Read the finished comic together in order, letting your child read it aloud or narrate it.

What you need

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Markers
  • Ruler

Make it yours

Younger (6 to 8 years): Use just three panels for beginning, middle, and end, with the adult scribing tricky words. Older (10 to 12 years): Add more panels, a page title, and try a cliffhanger ending that sets up a part two. Siblings: One plans the story while another draws, or each makes a page of a shared comic

Try this with your child.

Tell PLAI™ about your child and this moment. It shapes the activity to fit.

Try it in the app