There are conversations with teenagers that seem impossible to begin.
You ask, “How was your day?”
“Fine.”
“Is something bothering you?”
“No.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I am okay.”
For a parent, these short answers can feel like a closed door. Yet a teenager may have a great deal happening internally without having the language, confidence or desire to explain it directly.
A creative approach can provide another doorway.
“The Story So Far” is a simple expressive arts activity that invites teenagers to represent parts of their life visually. They can use drawing, colour, symbols, words or collage rather than having to explain everything verbally.
Creative arts can provide alternative ways of expressing experiences and emotions, particularly when finding the right words feels difficult. The American Psychological Association notes that expressive arts can support self-expression and self-awareness, while also cautioning against assuming that artwork has a fixed meaning that someone else can interpret for them. (American Psychological Association)
Why use a story?
Teenagers are in a period of significant change. Their understanding of themselves, their relationships and their place in the world continues to develop.
A story gives them a useful framework for looking at that journey.
Instead of asking:
“What is wrong?”
you can create an invitation to explore:
“What has your story looked like so far?”
That small shift can make the conversation feel less like an interrogation and more like an opportunity for reflection.
The activity also introduces an important idea: a person’s current chapter does not represent their entire story.
A difficult experience can be acknowledged without allowing it to become the whole identity.
What You Need
You do not need specialist art materials.
You can use:
- A large sheet of paper
- Pencils or coloured pencils
- Pens or markers
- Crayons
- Magazines and old newspapers for collage
- Glue and scissors, if appropriate
The paper can be divided into three sections:
PAGE 1: THE STORY SO FAR
This represents experiences that have shaped the teenager.
PAGE 2: RIGHT NOW
This represents their current emotional or life experience.
PAGE 3: THE NEXT PAGE
This represents what they would like to explore, experience, change or carry forward.
The teenager does not have to create a literal story.
A dark colour might represent a difficult period.
A particular object might represent someone important.
A shape might represent confusion.
A collection of colours might represent a complicated period of life.
A completely blank section might represent something they do not yet know how to express.
There is no correct artistic outcome.
How to Do “The Story So Far”
Step 1: Create a safe starting point
Give your teenager the materials and explain that there is no need to make the drawing look good.
You could say:
“I found this creative activity where you can make three pages about your story. You can draw, write, use colours or symbols. You do not have to explain anything unless you want to.”
That last sentence matters.
The teenager should retain control over what they share.
Step 2: Create the first page
Write:
THE STORY SO FAR
Invite them to represent experiences that have influenced them.
You could offer prompts such as:
- What moments have changed you?
- Who has been important in your life?
- What experiences have stayed with you?
- What is something you have learned?
- Is there a chapter that feels particularly important?
They can choose whichever prompt feels comfortable.
They can also ignore all of them.
The purpose is to create space for their own narrative.
Step 3: Create “Right Now”
The second page focuses on the present.
Instead of asking them to describe their emotions directly, invite them to represent what life feels like at this point.
You could ask:
“If your life right now were a page in a book, what would that page look like?”
They could use colours.
They could draw a landscape.
They could create symbols.
They could write a few words.
They could fill the page completely.
They could leave it almost blank.
All of these responses can provide useful information when the teenager chooses to explain them.
Step 4: Leave Space for the Next Page
The final section is:
THE NEXT PAGE
This is deliberately different from asking:
“What do you want your future to look like?”
That question can feel enormous.
Instead, ask:
“What would you like to put on the next page?”
The response could represent something small.
Perhaps they want more independence.
Perhaps they want a friendship to improve.
Perhaps they want to try something new.
Perhaps they want things to feel calmer.
Perhaps they have no idea yet.
“No idea” is also a valid response.
The point is to create room for possibility without demanding a definite plan.
The Most Important Part: Do Not Interpret the Artwork for Them
This is where adults can unintentionally take over.
A parent might see a dark drawing and immediately say:
“You must be really unhappy.”
Or see a person drawn without a face and conclude:
“You clearly feel disconnected from them.”
That interpretation may be completely wrong.
A symbol belongs to the person who created it.
Instead, use curious and open questions:
“Would you like to tell me about this part?”
“What does this colour mean to you?”
“I noticed you left this section blank. Do you want to say anything about that?”
And if they say no?
Accept that.
Expressive work does not need to become an immediate verbal conversation. The APA has specifically highlighted the importance of avoiding overinterpretation of artwork when working therapeutically with adolescents. (American Psychological Association)
Try This Question at the End
Once the three pages are complete, ask the teenager to step back and look at the whole picture.
Then ask:
“What did you notice when you could see your story all together?”
You might hear something unexpected.
They may notice how much has changed.
They may identify something they had forgotten.
They may recognise an important person in their story.
They may realise that a difficult chapter is no longer as dominant as it once felt.
Or they may simply say:
“Nothing.”
That is fine too.
The conversation does not need to produce a dramatic emotional breakthrough.
The opportunity to reflect is enough.
Why Creative Expression Can Help
Verbal communication is only one way of processing an experience.
Expressive arts can include visual art, music, movement, drama, poetry and storytelling. These approaches can provide alternative forms of communication, particularly when experiences are difficult to describe directly. (American Psychological Association)
Research discussed by the APA has also found associations between creative activity and emotional expression in children and adolescents, although the evidence varies considerably depending on the activity and the therapeutic context. (American Psychological Association)
That distinction matters.
A simple drawing activity at home should not be presented as a substitute for professional mental health care.
It is better understood as a creative opportunity for reflection and connection.
Turn It Into a Conversation, Not an Interrogation
The activity works best when the adult participates with genuine curiosity.
You could even create your own three-page story alongside your teenager.
That changes the dynamic.
Instead of sitting across from them waiting for answers, you are both engaged in a creative process.
You might say:
“I am going to make my own too.”
Your teenager may then decide to explain something.
Or they may not.
Either response can be respected.
The important thing is that the teenager knows they have control over their story.
What If the Teenager Refuses?
Do not force it.
You could leave the materials somewhere accessible and say:
“If you ever feel like trying it, it is here.”
That may be enough.
Creative activities become less useful when they feel like another task imposed by an adult.
The teenager can also change the format.
They might prefer:
- Creating a comic
- Making a collage
- Photographing objects that represent different chapters
- Making a playlist for different parts of their story
- Writing a fictional character’s story instead of their own
- Creating a visual timeline
The underlying idea remains the same: create a form through which their experience can be represented.
When This Activity May Be Particularly Useful
“The Story So Far” can work well during periods of transition.
For example:
Starting a new school
The teenager may be navigating a new identity, friendships and expectations.
Moving to a new place
Creating a visual representation can give them a way to acknowledge what they have left behind while considering what comes next.
Friendship changes
The story format can provide space to explore relationships without immediately asking for explanations.
Family changes
A visual narrative may help a teenager represent complicated feelings around changes at home.
Personal milestones
The activity does not have to be used only when something is wrong. It can also help a young person reflect on growth and experiences that have shaped them.
A Gentle Reminder for Parents
If your teenager creates artwork that concerns you, do not try to diagnose what it means from the image alone.
Instead, talk to them.
If they disclose significant distress, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, abuse, severe anxiety, depression or another serious concern, seek appropriate professional support rather than relying on an art activity.
Creative expression can complement support. It should not replace assessment or treatment when these are needed. The APA’s clinical guidance for adolescent mental health conditions also emphasises appropriate evidence-based assessment and treatment when significant difficulties are present. (American Psychological Association)
🎨 Watch the “The Story So Far” YouTube Short
I have demonstrated this activity in a short video so you can see exactly how to set it up with a teenager.
Watch it, save it and try the activity when you have a quiet moment together.
Art Materials You Can Use
You do not need expensive materials. A basic sketchbook and a few coloured pencils are enough.
If you would like to create a small creative reflection kit for your teenager, these are useful options to consider:
Sketch Book for Teen Girls and boys
A blank sketchbook is particularly useful because the teenager can decide whether each page contains drawing, writing, symbols or a combination.
Crayola 24 Coloured Pencils Eco
Coloured pencils are a simple addition because colour can be incorporated without requiring painting equipment.
Self-Esteem Journal for Teens
A guided journal can complement open-ended creative work by providing additional opportunities for personal reflection.
Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through an affiliate link that I add to this article, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
The Next Chapter Is Still Being Written
A teenager’s story contains far more than what they are willing to tell in a conversation.
Giving them a page can create a different kind of invitation.
They choose what appears on it.
They choose what remains private.
They decide whether they want to explain it.
And perhaps that is what makes “The Story So Far” useful. It gives young people a way to look at their experiences without requiring them to have all the words ready.
Want more creative ways to support your child’s emotional wellbeing?
Explore more resources from EducateAble, and subscribe to the YouTube channel for practical activities that parents and educators can use with children and teenagers.
If your child or teenager needs individual emotional support, consider seeking help from a qualified mental health professional who can assess their needs and provide appropriate support.
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