Making Up a Character by Talking

Before writing anything down, the easiest way for a young child to invent a character is simply talking one into existence, out loud, with no pressure to get it right the first time. Talking is still the more natural mode at this age — writing is slower and harder, so it should come after the fun of inventing, not during it.

Try this: ask a string of quick questions and accept whatever answer comes first, without judging it — "Is it a person or an animal?" "What's its name?" "What's one thing it's really good at?" "What's one thing it's scared of?" Four fast answers is already a character with a want and a weakness, even if your child couldn't explain it that way.

Resist the urge to write any of this down yet. The goal of this lesson is purely the out-loud inventing — the next lesson is where it becomes something on paper.