Using The BOUNCE Approach®

What’s happening

• Many children find it difficult to understand social situations, especially when emotions or perspectives differ.
• Misunderstandings can lead to conflict, frustration, or feelings of rejection.
• Comic Strip Conversations (Carol Gray) use simple drawings and speech bubbles to make conversations visual, helping children see what was said, thought, or felt.
• Energy battery impact: reducing the demand on verbal processing saves energy and makes tricky situations easier to review calmly.

The BOUNCE Approach®

🖤 B — Body and Nervous System (Inside Tool)

• Use drawing time as a calming, low-arousal activity.
• Children can doodle while settling their body, making it easier to talk.

❤️ O — Openness to Connection and Attachment (In-Between Tool)

• Work side by side — drawing together creates safety without eye contact pressure.
• Use curiosity: “What do you think they were feeling in that moment?”

🧡 U — Understanding Sensory Differences (Outside Tool)

• Draw sensory triggers into the strip (loud noise, bright light, crowded space).
• Show how environment impacts reactions, not just people’s choices.

💚 N — Navigating Emotions (Inside Tool)

• Add thought and feeling bubbles to explore emotions: “I felt worried here,” “They thought I was cross.”
• Use colours (BOUNCE system: Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Blue) to show nervous system states.

💙 C — Connection to Self and Others (In-Between Tool)

• Practise perspective-taking gently: “What did each person notice?”
• Repair misunderstandings by highlighting both sides of the story.

💜 E — Esteem and Identity (Inside Tool)

• Affirm effort: “You explained that really clearly with your drawings.”
• Show that everyone sees things differently — and that’s okay.

Adult Focus:

• Comic strips aren’t about finding fault — they’re about making invisible thoughts visible.
• Keep it collaborative and light — humour often helps.
• Revisit strips over time to show progress and build confidence.

Next Steps

• Explore further learning:
  • Comic Strip Conversations — practical training in using visuals to support communication.
  • Theory of Mind — helping children understand perspectives.
  • Solution Circles — collaborative approaches to resolving conflict.
• Family Coaching: Learn how to use quick comic strips at home to ease sibling disputes or talk through tricky social events. Click here
• Join the Learning Portal: Access 80+ trainings and printable tools, including ready-to-use comic strip templates for schools and families. Click here

👉 Comic Strip Conversations give children a visual voice, helping them process what happened — and plan for safer, calmer interactions next time.