The Character Interview · Connected Through Play

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The Character Interview

Time to step into someone else’s shoes. This playful activity isn't about summarizing a plot; it’s about "attunement,” practicing the ability to feel what someone else feels.

Gather Your Gear:

A favorite book, a movie you’ve recently watched, or even a well-known fairy tale. A notebook and writing instrument to write down answers or phone and microphone to record the interview.

Get Started:

1. Pick a character from a story you both know well.

2. The Roles: One person is the "Journalist," and the other is the "Character."

3. The Journalist asks 3 "Internal" questions.

For Example: "Cinderella, when you were left behind at the house, what was the very first thing you did to make yourself feel better?" or "Spiderman, do you ever get tired of having to save everyone?"

4. The Goal: The person playing the character has to answer based on feelings, not just what happened in the story.

The Special Twist:

The Journalist must start every follow-up question with: "That makes sense because..." This forces the "Journalist" to validate the character’s feelings before moving on. It’s a literal rehearsal for empathy.

Options for Older Kids:

For Ages 12–14: The Unheard Perspective

Pick a "villain" or a side character from a movie. Write or record a 60-second "Confession" from their point of view. Why did they do what they did? What is the part of their story that the main movie missed? This builds "critical literacy,” the ability to see that every story has multiple sides.

For Ages 15–17: The Social Media "Ghost" Writer

Pick a historical figure or a fictional character and imagine their social media feed during a crisis. What would they post if they were trying to be "authentic" versus what they would post to "achieve" status? Discuss the difference between their public image and their private reality.

Your Turn:

Which character did you choose to interview? What was the most surprising "feeling" your child assigned to that character?

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