Make Your Own Character
Make Your Own Character
A creative storytelling activity for toddlers and preschoolers
Why Make Your Own Character Works
Make Your Own Character gives children a playful way to invent, describe, and imagine. Instead of starting with a finished story, your child begins with one simple question: “Who should our character be?”
The character might be a silly dragon, a tiny robot, a brave bunny, a dancing spoon, or a child with magical shoes. As children choose details, they practice language, decision-making, emotional awareness, and creative problem-solving.
This activity also makes storytelling feel easier. Once children know who the character is, what the character likes, and what problem the character faces, they have a natural starting point for pretend play, drawing, puppet shows, or made-up stories.
What You Need
You can play this activity with nothing but conversation, or use simple art supplies to bring the character to life.
Skills Built
This creative play activity supports imagination, language growth, and early storytelling skills.
- Imagination: Children invent new characters, features, and pretend worlds.
- Expressive language: Kids describe what their character looks like, feels, likes, and does.
- Storytelling: Children begin building character, setting, problem, and solution.
- Emotional awareness: Kids choose how the character feels and what the character needs.
- Creative confidence: Children learn that their ideas are worth sharing and expanding.
How to Play Make Your Own Character
- Start with a simple choice. Ask, “Should our character be a person, animal, toy, monster, robot, or something silly?”
- Name the character. Let your child choose a real name, funny name, or made-up sound name.
- Choose what the character looks like. Talk about colors, size, clothes, hair, ears, wings, shoes, or silly details.
- Add a favorite thing. Ask what the character loves, such as bananas, dancing, puddles, books, or rocket ships.
- Pick a feeling. Decide if the character feels happy, nervous, excited, sleepy, brave, or surprised.
- Give the character a tiny problem. Maybe they lost a hat, need a friend, want to cross a puddle, or cannot find their snack.
- Act, draw, or tell the story. Let your child draw the character, pretend to be the character, or tell what happens next.
Parent Prompts for Character Creation
These prompts help children add details while keeping the activity playful and open-ended.
- “What should our character be called?”
- “What color is your character?”
- “What does your character love to do?”
- “How is your character feeling today?”
- “What is something silly about your character?”
- “What problem does your character need help with?”
- “What happens next in the story?”
Easy Variations for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Silly Animal Character
Create an animal with one unexpected detail, like a turtle with tap shoes or a giraffe who loves tiny hats.
Feelings Character
Build a character around one feeling, such as a nervous dragon, a proud penguin, or a sleepy superhero.
Object Character
Turn an everyday object into a character, such as a talking spoon, a brave sock, or a backpack who wants an adventure.
Puppet Character
Use a stuffed animal, sock puppet, or hand puppet and let your child decide the character’s voice, name, and personality.
Story Starter Character
Once the character is created, begin a story with: “One day, our character found something surprising…”
Make It Easier or Harder
For Younger Toddlers
- Offer two choices at a time: “Should it be a bunny or a robot?”
- Focus on simple details like name, color, and favorite food.
- Let your child point, gesture, act, or make sounds instead of using full sentences.
- Keep the story short and playful.
For Older Preschoolers
- Ask your child to describe the character’s personality.
- Add a setting, problem, and solution.
- Have your child draw the character and explain each detail.
- Create two characters and imagine how they meet.
- Turn the character into a short pretend play scene.
Common Questions About Make Your Own Character
What age is Make Your Own Character best for?
This activity works well for ages 2–6. Toddlers can make simple choices, while preschoolers can add more detailed descriptions, feelings, problems, and story ideas.
Does this activity help with storytelling?
Yes. Creating a character gives children an easy entry point into storytelling because they can build a story around who the character is, what the character wants, and what happens next.
Can this activity be done without art supplies?
Absolutely. You can create a character through conversation, pretend play, silly voices, or movement. Drawing is optional.
How long should the activity last?
Most children enjoy 10–20 minutes. You can stop after creating the character or continue into drawing, acting, or storytelling.
Quick Recap
Make Your Own Character is a simple creative play activity for toddlers and preschoolers. Children invent a character, describe details, explore feelings, and build early storytelling confidence through imagination and play.