Storytime: Overcoming A Fear - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Storytime: Overcoming A Fear

Write and illustrate a short story about a character facing a fear, create simple puppets, and perform it to practice courage and storytelling.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to Storytime: Overcoming A Fear

What you need

Paper, pencil, colouring materials such as crayons markers or coloured pencils, scissors, glue or tape, popsicle sticks or wooden skewers, cardboard or paper bags, small box or table for stage, adult supervision required

Step 1

Sit in a quiet spot with your materials ready.

Step 2

Choose a character you want to tell a story about.

Step 3

Give your character a name.

Step 4

Pick one fear your character will face.

Step 5

Write a short three-part outline with a beginning a middle and an end.

Step 6

Turn your outline into a short story of about four to eight sentences on paper.

Step 7

Draw one picture for the beginning one picture for the middle and one picture for the end.

Step 8

Draw two simple puppet shapes of your character on cardboard or a paper bag.

Step 9

Carefully cut out your puppet shapes with scissors.

Step 10

Colour and decorate your puppets and your story pictures.

Step 11

Attach a popsicle stick or skewer to each puppet with glue or tape to make handles.

Step 12

Make a small stage by turning a box on its side or clearing a space on a table and placing your pictures as a backdrop.

Step 13

Practice your puppet performance aloud once or twice.

Step 14

Perform your puppet story for family or friends to practice courage and storytelling.

Step 15

Share your finished puppet story and pictures on DIY.org

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have popsicle sticks, skewers, or a paper bag for the puppets?

If you don't have popsicle sticks, skewers, or a paper bag to make handles, glue or tape rolled-up cardboard strips, wooden chopsticks, stiff drinking straws, or strips of index card to the cut-out puppet shapes when you 'Attach a popsicle stick or skewer to each puppet with glue or tape'.

My puppet shapes keep tearing when I cut them out—how can we avoid that?

To prevent tearing while you 'Carefully cut out your puppet shapes with scissors,' draw larger, simpler shapes on thicker cardboard or a paper bag, cut slowly with an adult's help, or use pre-cut templates or a craft knife on a cutting mat for clean edges.

How can we adapt the activity for younger or older kids?

For younger children, simplify by choosing a familiar character, having an adult help write the three-part outline and pre-cut puppet shapes to color, while older kids can expand the four-to-eight sentence story, add dialogue and sound effects, and build a more detailed box stage.

What are some ways to make the puppet show more engaging or personalized after finishing the basic steps?

Make the show more engaging by adding movable joints with brads to your cardboard puppets, layering the three beginning/middle/end pictures inside the box stage for depth, creating simple sound effects during practice, and personalizing the character's fear-resolution before sharing the finished puppet story on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to perform Storytime: Overcoming A Fear

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"Face Your Fears! Fun Tips for Kids to Be Brave | Overcoming Scary Challenges"

4 Videos

Facts about storytelling and emotional resilience for kids

🎭 Puppetry is ancient — puppet shows have appeared in many cultures for thousands of years.

✏️ Many picture books use 32 pages because printing and folding make that a handy standard for illustrators.

🐻 Performing through a puppet helps shy kids speak up because they can pretend the puppet is talking instead of themselves.

📖 Telling and listening to stories boosts empathy and vocabulary — it's a superpower for understanding feelings and new words.

😱 Most children experience common fears (like the dark or monsters) and often outgrow them as they practice bravery and coping skills.

How do I run the Storytime: Overcoming A Fear activity?

To run 'Storytime: Overcoming A Fear', ask the child to choose a fear and brainstorm a brave character. Help them outline a short beginning, middle (challenge), and ending (how the character copes). Have the child write and illustrate pages, then make simple puppets from socks, paper bags, or craft sticks. Rehearse lines, practice voice and gestures, perform for family, and finish with a gentle discussion about feelings and lessons learned.

What materials do I need for Storytime: Overcoming A Fear?

You'll need paper or a notebook, pencils and erasers, colored pencils/crayons/markers, child-safe scissors, glue or tape, plain socks or paper bags, craft sticks, string, and buttons or stickers for decorations. A cardboard box can be a simple stage, and a phone or camera can record the performance. Use washable supplies and avoid small choking hazards for younger children.

What ages is the Storytime: Overcoming A Fear activity suitable for?

This works well for ages 4–12 with adjustments: 4–6-year-olds need adult guidance, drawing and verbal storytelling with simple puppets; 7–9 can write short sentences, make basic puppets, and rehearse; 10–12+ can develop longer scripts and deeper character arcs. Supervise craft tools, and keep younger sessions shorter (30–45 minutes). Adapt complexity to each child's attention and emotional readiness.

What are the benefits of doing Storytime: Overcoming A Fear?

This activity builds emotional resilience by letting children face fears safely through storytelling. It improves vocabulary, narrative skills, and fine motor control from drawing and puppet-making. Performing boosts confidence, public-speaking, and empathy as kids role-play others' feelings. It also encourages problem-solving and family connection; debriefing helps children identify coping strategies they can use in real life.

Ready to create?