*Now With Video* Think about what makes you brave as you make a model of your own fire breathing dragon head!
Watch the new CAT Corner video of how to make your very own Bravery Dragon!
What you’ll need: A cardboard tube, paper, markers or paint, glue, tissue paper (or another lightweight material, like ribbon, or scraps of fabric)
What’s it for?
This activity will help you think about what it means to be brave and strong, and the things that make you feel this way. This will help you to feel less afraid when confronted with things that might feel scary.
Check In:
Notice how you’re feeling right now. Close your eyes and notice what’s going on inside your mind and body.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
How does your body feel?
Method:
Fairytales and stories often feature dragons. Sometimes stories have a character that fights a dragon to show how brave they are. Other stories focus on how strong the dragon is, perhaps as it guards its treasure! While you do this craft, think about times that you have felt brave and strong. What does bravery mean to you? What does it mean to be strong?
To make your dragon head, use a toilet roll tube or cut a kitchen roll tube in half. You can decorate the head however you like - one end will be the dragon’s mouth. You might like to paint or colour the tube one colour, and then add some eyes or nostrils. You could also glue smaller pieces of paper to the tube as if they were scales. Use your imagination to decorate your dragon head however you would like.
Think carefully about the times you have been brave. It might have been a situation like going to the dentists, doing a test or exam, or even when you've had to apologise to someone.
To make the dragon’s ‘fire’ cut or rip some fire shaped pieces of paper. Write on these the times that you have been brave. Also cut or rip some tissue paper into strips, about the length of your fingers. You might like to colour all of your strips of paper and tissue in orange, red, and yellow to represent flames. You could also have your dragon ‘fire’ be another colour - could you dragon breath ice instead? Glue the strips of paper around the inside of the dragon’s ‘mouth’ end of the tube.
To make your dragon breathe fire, blow into the other end of the tube so that the strips of paper wave around like a flickering fire! You might need to use a really strong breath.
Extra Activity: Make up a story about your dragon. Who is being strong and brave in your story? You might like to write it down or act it out as a pretend game.
When you’ve finished, spend a moment reflecting on the activity and ask yourself the following questions:
Did you learn anything new about yourself while you did this activity?
When is a time that you have had to be strong or brave?
Can you still be scared if you have to be brave? You might like to ask someone you trust what they think.
You can use the word ‘strong’ to talk about a person who can lift something heavy, and also a person who can keep going when things are difficult in their life. Who are the strong people you know in your life?
How would it feel if you were faced with a scary dragon? Would it be hard to be brave?
How would it feel if you were big and strong like a dragon? What makes you feel strong in real life?
Conclusion:
This activity uses a dragon you create to help you to think about what it means to be brave and strong, and to identify times you have felt this way.
Take a moment to notice how you are feeling at the end of this activity. Did you discover anything surprising? What can you take away to make you feel better about yourself from this activity?
If you would like to, share something about your experience with this activity with someone you live with! Ask the person who looks after you to send us an email if you have any questions or comments about the activity, or would like to send us any pictures (info@catcorner.co.uk). Don't forget to subscribe for more fun CAT activities!
Created by Heather Dingle © March 2020
Creative Arts Used: Art
Psychological Areas Explored: Emotional Wellbeing, Self-Exploration
These activities could be done by children of all ages, but some may need the support of their parent or carer to read the instructions or complete the activity safely.
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