When it doesn't work the first time
A short, funny cartoon about a wobbly drawing, with your child as the hero. Watch it together on a calm day, then talk.
An example story beginning for this moment. It is not a cartoon of your own story.
Cartoons are made with AI. You preview each one before your child sees it. Automatic checks can miss things.
Let's imagine
Example, made with AI
Leo (5) draws a dog. One ear comes out wobbly. "It's all wrong," he says, and drops his crayon. His grandad sits beside him. "That's a big feeling." Leo takes a slow breath. Biscuit looks at the drawing and wags his tail. Leo picks up the crayon and draws one more ear, a different way. Now the dog has three ears. Leo giggles.
The characters in this example are made up. Your child can be the hero, with or without a photo.
What happens in the story
In the example above:
- Leo says how he feels in plain words, and he puts the crayon down.
- His grandad waits, names the feeling, and doesn't hurry him.
- Leo takes a slow breath and tries one thing a different way.
- The drawing isn't perfect. It has three ears, and Leo laughs.
Talk-after card
Here are three gentle questions to talk about after this example. Best watched together, then followed by a chat or a game.
- What happened to Leo's drawing?
- What did Grandad say? What did Leo do next?
- When something doesn't work the first time, what would you like to do? You can tell me or show me.
Use the ones that feel right. Skip any you like.
What a cartoon can and can't do
- Zubby isn't for the middle of a hard moment. Watch together on a calm day.
- Every family has its own pace.
- Each Zubby cartoon is made to be talked about together. It can't do the work of routine, patience or your child's doctor.
- If you are worried about your child's sleep, eating, fears or behaviour, talk to your child's doctor, nurse or teacher.