Cartoonify your life
Draw a cartoon version of yourself and create a three-panel comic of daily scenes using simple shapes, colors, speech bubbles, and captions.
About this activity
Draw a cartoon version of yourself and create a three-panel comic of daily scenes using simple shapes, colors, speech bubbles, and captions.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather your materials.
- 2
Step 2
Use the ruler and pencil to draw two vertical lines to divide the paper into three equal panels.
- 3
Step 3
Choose three daily scenes you want to show in your comic.
- 4
Step 4
Lightly sketch a simple cartoon version of yourself in each panel using basic shapes like circles and ovals.
- 5
Step 5
Add props and background elements to each panel to show where each scene happens.
- 6
Step 6
Draw speech bubbles and short lines of dialogue or sounds for any characters who are talking.
- 7
Step 7
Trace over your pencil drawings with the black marker to make bold cartoon outlines.
- 8
Step 8
Let the ink dry completely before you touch the paper.
- 9
Step 9
Erase any remaining pencil marks gently.
- 10
Step 10
Color each panel using your colouring materials.
- 11
Step 11
Write a short caption under each panel that explains the scene.
- 12
Step 12
Write a fun title at the top of your comic.
- 13
Step 13
Add your signature to the comic.
- 14
Step 14
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I do the 'Cartoonify your life' activity with my child?
To do 'Cartoonify your life', start by simplifying your child's features into basic shapes—circles, ovals, triangles—to sketch a cartoon self. Pick three everyday moments (morning, school/snack, bedtime), then divide a page into three panels. Draw scenes with simple backgrounds, add speech bubbles and short captions to show thoughts or dialogue. Color with markers or crayons, outline with a black pen, and encourage kids to share or caption their comic aloud.
What materials do I need for the 'Cartoonify your life' comic project?
You'll need paper or a sketchbook, a pencil and eraser for rough sketches, a fine black pen or marker for outlines, and colored pencils, markers or crayons for color. A ruler helps make panel borders; speech-bubble templates or stickers are optional. For digital versions use a tablet or drawing app (Procreate, Sketchbook) and a stylus. Keep wipes and a smock nearby for messy media. Most items are household-friendly and inexpensive.
What ages is the 'Cartoonify your life' activity suitable for?
Suitable for ages about 4–12 with adjustments: preschoolers (4–6) can trace simple shapes and pick colors with adult help; early elementary kids (7–9) can draw panels and write short captions independently; tweens (10–12) can add more detail, humor, and sequencing. Adapt complexity and time to attention span, or offer stickers and stamps for non-writers. Always supervise scissors and small items for younger children.
What are the benefits of doing 'Cartoonify your life' with my child?
Cartoonify your life boosts creativity, storytelling, and emotional expression by letting children summarize feelings and routines visually. It strengthens sequencing, vocabulary and fine motor skills while teaching cause-effect through simple narratives. Working on comics builds confidence, patience, and observation. It's also an easy screen-free activity that encourages family sharing—kids can narrate panels aloud or trade comics. For extra value, discuss the story to practice empathy and lang
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of a ruler, black marker, or specific colouring materials if we don't have them?
Use the straight edge of a book or folded paper to draw the two vertical lines, trace outlines with a black ballpoint or fine permanent pen if you don't have a black marker, and substitute crayons, felt-tip pens, or watercolour pencils for the colouring materials.
What should we do if the panels, outlines, or colours don't look right or the marker smudges?
If panels aren't equal, fold the paper into thirds before drawing the two vertical lines; test the black marker on scrap paper first and let the ink dry completely as instructed before gently erasing remaining pencil marks to avoid smudging or bleeding.
How can I change the activity for different ages or skill levels?
For younger children, have an adult pre-draw the three panels and let them make very simple cartoons with big shapes and crayons, while older kids can add more panels, detailed backgrounds, speech-bubble dialogue, and hand-lettered captions before signing and sharing on DIY.org.
How can we make the comic more creative or personal after finishing the basic steps?
Enhance your comic by collaging scrap-paper backgrounds behind props, adding shading with coloured pencils over the traced black marker outlines, inventing distinctive speech-bubble styles, writing a clever title at the top, adding your signature, and then sharing the finished creation on DIY.org.