Courage scenarios for kids: 33 situations to practise being brave

Taking Turns

Ages 8–12

You’re in a play and supposed to share lines. Your partner keeps trying to say all of them. What do you do?

Also practises: relationship skills, self-awareness, empathy

Leadership troubles

Ages 8–14

You and two others are assigned as group leaders. One person tries to take over everything. You’re not sure how to speak up. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, social awareness, self-control

A New Start?

Ages 10–14

You’ve just moved to a new school where everyone already seems to have their own group.

On your first week, a friendly group invites you to sit with them at lunch. You’re excited — until one of them starts teasing another student who walks past.

Everyone laughs, then one turns to you and says,

“You’re one of us now, right? We don’t talk to people like that.”

The group waits for your reaction — smiling, testing you.

Your heart races. You’ve wanted to belong for so long, but not like this.

What do you do?

Also practises: integrity, social awareness, confidence

Broken Window

Ages 10–14

After school, a few classmates dare each other to throw stones at the old gym windows.

You’re there when one of them actually does — the glass shatters loudly.

Everyone freezes.

The next morning, the principal announces over the PA that whoever’s responsible needs to come forward — or the whole grade will lose their weekend excursion.

Later, one of the boys pulls you aside and whispers,

“You didn’t see anything, right? We’re all in this together.”

You know exactly who did it. You also know it’s not fair for everyone else to be punished.

What do you do?

Also practises: responsibility, social awareness

Target Shifter

Ages 10–14

You spoke up last week when a group started teasing another student.

Since then, the group has stopped talking to you — and now they’re posting inside jokes online that seem aimed at you.

One of your old friends messages privately:

“They’re just joking — don’t make it worse. Maybe say sorry, even if you didn’t do anything.”

You feel torn — you did the right thing, but now you’re the one being left out.

What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, social awareness, resilience, belonging

Project Mix Mash!

Ages 6–10

Your teacher puts you in a group for a big project, but everyone already seems to have friends in the group except you. They start talking about plans from last year that you don’t know about. You want to join your old group because you know them. What do you do?

Also practises: belonging, self-control, relationship skills

Swapped Goody Bags

Ages 6–10

You accidentally grabbed your friend’s birthday goody bag instead of yours. Theirs had something special in it that you like. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, social awareness, integrity

Is This Video too Old for Us?

Ages 6–11

At a friend’s house, they start watching a YouTube video that says “for ages 12+.” No adults are around. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, integrity, self-control, responsibility

Classmate Copy

Ages 6–12

A classmate keeps asking to copy your math's homework. You like them and don’t want to cause trouble. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, relationship skills, integrity

Friend Wants to Borrow New Toy After Last Time's Accident

Ages 6–12

Your friend asks to play with your new toy, but the last time they broke one. They promise to be careful. What do you do?

Also practises: relationship skills, empathy, social awareness

Nervous Performer

Ages 6–12

Your teacher asks if anyone wants to perform a talent for Friday’s class. You’re interested but nervous others will laugh. What do you do?

Also practises: self-control, confidence

Balancing Secrets and Safety

Ages 6–14

A friend shares something serious with you at recess and asks you not to tell anyone. Later, it seems like they might need help. What do you do?

Also practises: relationship skills, empathy, social awareness

Bright Colors, Big Decisions

Ages 6–14

It’s pyjama day and you forgot. Everyone else is in bright colors. You've gone to school with your normal school uniform. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, self-awareness, optimism

Friend Chooses Who to Sit With in Lunch Line

Ages 6–14

In the cafeteria line, your friend says he only wants to hang out with certain kids. Another student standing nearby hears and looks hurt. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, relationship skills, social awareness

Friends in a Tiff

Ages 6–14

Two of your friends stop talking and want you to 'choose sides.' What do you do?

Also practises: relationship skills, empathy, social awareness

Friendships choices

Ages 6–14

A new student sits alone at lunch. You want to sit with your usual group, but you also don’t want the new kid to feel left out. What do you do?

Also practises: belonging, empathy

Left Out of Sleepover

Ages 6–14

You hear your classmates talking about a weekend sleepover but you are not invited. What do you do?

Also practises: relationship skills, social awareness, empathy

Meal was.....

Ages 6–14

You’re having dinner at your friend’s house. Their parent serves food that you really don’t like, but everyone else is eating and saying how good it is. Your friend’s mum looks at you and asks, “Do you like it?”

Also practises: integrity, social awareness

Quiet no more

Ages 6–14

At school, people call you “the quiet one.”

You hear it so often that even when you want to speak up, you stop yourself because “quiet” feels like your role.

But lately you’ve started to wonder if you’ve let that label decide too much about you.

Also practises: confidence, self-awareness

Toy Trouble

Ages 6–14

You're at your friend’s house and you borrow their toy and accidentally break a piece. They haven’t noticed yet. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, integrity, responsibility

Tryout Nerves

Ages 6–14

You’ve practiced for weeks to make the school sports team. On tryout day, you miss your first shot — then your second. You can feel everyone watching. Your coach frowns and writes something on their clipboard.

You start to think, "Maybe I’m just not good enough." What do you do?

Also practises: confidence, resilience, self-awareness

When Laughter Hurts

Ages 6–14

During group work, one classmate makes a loud, rude comment about someone’s idea. The group laughs. What do you do?

Also practises: social awareness, empathy, relationship skills

Whispers and Glasses

Ages 6–14

You overhear a whisper about someone’s new glasses looking ‘weird.’ The student hears it too and goes quiet. What do you do?

Also practises: self-awareness, self-control, confidence

Bump and Bend

Ages 8–14

Someone bumps into you and gives a half-hearted “sorry” before walking off. You look down, and the school project you were carrying got bent. What do you do?

Also practises: optimism, integrity, self-control

New Group. New You?

Ages 8–14

You’ve joined a new group of friends who like things you’re not really into. They joke about people who study too hard or help teachers. You laugh along — even though it makes you uncomfortable. That night you think that you've changed a little since hanging out with them, and you don't like it. What do you do?

Also practises: self-awareness, belonging, integrity

Playground nasty

Ages 8–14

A classmate teases you in front of others and says you always get things wrong. Your friends are watching how you respond. Some giggle, others look concerned. What do you do?

Also practises: confidence, social awareness

Answers Shared in Group Chat Before Big Test

Ages 10–14

Before a big test, someone shares answers in a group chat. You see many classmates thanking them. What do you do?

Also practises: social awareness, integrity, self-control

Class Joke?

Ages 10–14

You answer a question in class, but you pronounce one of the characters wrong

A few classmates laugh, and one whispers, “Nice one, genius.”

Your cheeks go red — you want to disappear.

You think you had a good point but the whole class is focussed on your pronunciation.

Later, the teacher says, “Good try — at least you had the courage to speak up.”

What do you do?

Also practises: confidence, self-control, resilience

Classmate Submits Artwork That Someone Else Created

Ages 10–14

You notice a classmate submitted a drawing you saw someone else working on last week. No one else seems to realize it. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, integrity

Screenshot

Ages 10–14

You’re in a group chat with your friends.

One night, someone sends a screenshot — it’s of you, from a private message you sent to your best friend.

They’ve been talking about you behind your back.

Your chest feels tight. You scroll and see messages like,

“I wasn’t trying to be mean, I just think they’re so dramatic sometimes.”

You feel betrayed and embarrassed — but you also remember how close you’ve been for years.

The next day, your friend acts like nothing happened.

What do you do?

Also practises: relationship skills, integrity, self-control

Clothes liner

Ages 12–14

Someone starts a group chat making fun of a classmate’s clothes.

A few friends you like are in the chat too — and one of them adds you.

You want to leave, but you also don’t want to look boring or self-righteous.

Then someone posts a photo of one of your mates in clothes and everyone starts laughing.

What do you do?

Also practises: online safety, integrity, kindness, social awareness

Friends Tease You for Mentoring Young Student

Ages 12–14

You're asked to mentor a younger student at school, but your friends tease you about 'wasting time with a baby.' You want to help but feel embarrassed. What do you do?

Also practises: empathy, relationship skills, social awareness

Video post

Ages 12–14

You’re at your friend’s house, and everyone’s joking around. Your friend secretly records you dancing and uploads it to their story with a funny caption.

You laugh at first - but later notice people at school commenting on it and tagging you. Some are kind, but others make fun of it.

Your friend says, “Relax, it’s just a joke - everyone loved it.” What do you do?

Also practises: online safety, self-awareness