Rainy Day Comic Strip Maker for Kids: Free Printable, Story Ideas and Tips

Download the free printable cards

What can children draw in a comic strip?

Here are ready to use heroes, problems and endings so no one is stuck staring at a blank panel. Mix and match one from each list to build a full six panel story.

Heroes and characters

1. A cat who can talk but only in rhymes
2. A clumsy superhero still learning to fly
3. A robot built from umbrella parts
4. A brave snail racing to save the garden
5. Twins who swap powers every Tuesday
6. A wizard whose spells always go slightly wrong
7. A dog detective with a very good nose
8. A friendly cloud who follows one child everywhere
9. An inventor kid with a shed full of gadgets
10. A pirate who is scared of the sea

Rainy day problems

1. The rain will not stop and the town is flooding
2. A puddle turns out to be a doorway somewhere else
3. The hero's umbrella blows away in a storm
4. A lost kitten is stuck up a tree in the rain
5. The school trip is about to be cancelled
6. Thunder has frightened all the garden animals
7. A drain is blocked and the street keeps filling up
8. The power goes out during the biggest storm of the year
9. A mysterious knock at the door on a wet night
10. Everyone's wellies have gone missing

Endings and twists

1. The hero builds a raft and saves the day
2. The rain was magic and makes flowers bloom everywhere
3. A clever plan fixes the blocked drain
4. The lost kitten becomes the hero's new sidekick
5. The sun finally breaks through the clouds
6. The villain turns out to be lonely and just wanted a friend
7. A secret tunnel leads everyone to safety
8. The gadget works on the very last try
9. Everyone shares one giant umbrella and laughs
10. The storm passes and a huge rainbow appears

How to make a comic strip, step by step

1. Print the comic strip maker and gather pencils and felt tips.
2. Pick a hero and a rainy day problem from the lists.
3. Plan a beginning, middle and end out loud before drawing.
4. Draw one part of the story in each panel.
5. Add speech bubbles and a title, then read it aloud together.

Ways to use the comic strip maker

• Turn one rainy afternoon into a series. Let your child keep the same hero across several sheets so the story grows week by week. A folder of comics soon becomes a proud collection.
• Make it a family swap. Everyone draws one panel, then passes it on. The story gets sillier with each hand and nobody knows the ending.
• Pair it with a quiet game first. Warm up imaginations with a round of Code Breaking Board Game, then settle down to draw. Thinking games and storytelling work well side by side.
• Add a reading aloud finale. When the comic is done, children perform it like a play, doing the voices for each character. This builds confidence as well as reading skill.
• Use it for a rainy classroom slot. Print a set for the whole group and display finished comics on the wall. Children love spotting their work and reading each other's stories.

Games and gifts for rainy days

When the comic is finished, keep the screen free afternoon going with a game or a craft set. These favourites all work well indoors for ages 8 and up.

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Comic strips by age and key stage

What children learn from making a comic

• Storytelling. Planning a beginning, middle and end helps children structure their ideas and think about what comes next.
• Writing. Short speech bubbles and captions give a gentle, low pressure reason to write and spell.
• Drawing. Filling each panel builds fine motor control and confidence with pencils and felt tips.
• Sequencing. Deciding the order of events supports the thinking behind reading and maths.
• Imagination. Inventing heroes and problems stretches creative thinking and gives children ownership of their story.

More free Christmas printables

Every one is free to print, and each has its own guide.

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Make it a Christmas tradition

Comic making is an easy habit to build. Keep a small stack of printed sheets in a drawer so there is always one ready when the rain sets in. Children love seeing their earlier comics, so start a folder and add to it over the year. Before long you will have a shelf of homemade stories that cost nothing but an afternoon.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a comic strip with kids?

Pick a hero and a problem, plan a beginning, middle and end, then draw each part in its own panel with speech bubbles. Reading it aloud at the end is the best part.

What age is the comic strip maker for?

It suits ages 8 and up, which is Year 4 and above in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in happily with a helper.

How long does it take?

Most children spend 30 to 45 minutes, though a keen storyteller may carry on much longer. There is no rush, so let them take their time.

What do we need to print it?

Just the free printable, some pencils and a few felt tips or crayons. A rubber is handy for anyone who likes to plan in pencil first.

My child says they cannot draw. Any tips?

Remind them that comic drawings can be simple stick figures and still tell a brilliant story. The story matters more than the artwork.

Can more than one child do it together?

Yes. They can each make their own, or share the panels and pass the sheet along for a funny team story.

How do I help without taking over?

Offer ideas from the lists, ask questions like what happens next, and let your child make the final choices. Their comic should feel like theirs.

What can we do once the comic is finished?

Read it aloud, start a new one, or switch to a quiet indoor game. There are more rainy day gift ideas above.

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Jaques of London is Britain's oldest toy and games company, founded in 1795. We have spent over 230 years making games families play together, from chess and croquet to wooden toys for the very young.

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Written by the Jaques of London team. Last updated 1 November 2026.