6 Evidence-Based Strategies That Actually Work
Your 6-year-old comes home from school. A classmate has been calling her names at lunch. She hasn't told anyone. When you ask why, she says: "What if it makes it worse?"
This is the courage gap. And for children aged 5-7, it's not about physical bravery—it's about speaking up when it's scary, standing alone when no one else will, and doing the right thing even when it costs you.
The good news? Research shows that ages 5-7 are the critical window for building moral courage. Here's how to teach it.
Young children face courage tests daily:
These aren't dramatic moments. But they're where character forms.
Children don't always recognize their own brave moments. Point them out:
Why it works: Labeling the behavior makes it concrete. Kids start to recognize: "Oh, THAT'S what courage feels like."
Courage isn't "not being scared." It's acting despite the fear. Teach this explicitly:
Why it works: If children think courage means no fear, they'll think they're not brave. Normalize the fear; celebrate the action.
Abstract lessons don't stick. Stories do. Use real British heroes:
Winston Churchill's Wilderness Years: In the 1930s, Churchill warned about Hitler when everyone thought he was wrong. He was mocked, ignored, isolated. But he kept speaking up. Years later, Britain called on him—because he'd had the courage to be right when he was alone.
For KS1 children: Simplify it. "Churchill spoke up even when no one agreed. Even when people laughed. He did it anyway. And later, everyone realized he was right."
Why it works: Kids need models. Not superhuman ones—real people who felt scared, stood alone, and did it anyway.
Don't wait for big moments. Build the muscle with tiny acts:
Why it works: Courage is a habit. Small wins build confidence for bigger tests.
In the moment, children need a decision tool. Give them one:
Why it works: It externalizes the choice. Instead of "am I brave enough?", it's "what would a brave person do in this situation?"
Let your child see you being brave:
Why it works: Children learn from what you DO, not just what you say. Show them that adults feel scared too—and do it anyway.
We wrote The Girl Who Wouldn't Shut Up specifically to teach this value. Here's the story:
Edie lives in a village where the allotment is going to be sold for a car park. All the adults are upset—but no one speaks up at the council meeting. They're worried about looking silly, about being wrong, about standing out.
Edie doesn't understand why they're all silent. So she stands up—alone—and asks: "Why can't we just say no?"
At the end, we connect it to Churchill: "In the 1930s, everyone thought Churchill was wrong. He kept speaking anyway. And later, Britain needed him—because he'd had the courage to be right when he was alone."
It's not a history lesson. It's a mirror: This is what courage looks like. You can do this too.
See how Edie learns the courage to speak up—inspired by Churchill's wilderness years.
Get Free Sample ChapterDon't force it: "Go on, ask that child to play!" If you push too hard, it becomes about pleasing you—not genuine courage.
Don't praise recklessness: Courage ≠ taking stupid risks. It's calculated bravery (speaking truth to power), not impulsive danger.
Don't only celebrate success: Sometimes courage doesn't work. Edie might speak up and still lose the allotment. Celebrate the act, not just the outcome.
Ages 5-7 is when children start to:
If you teach courage NOW, it becomes their default. If you wait until age 10, you're fighting against established patterns of conformity.
This week, try this:
That's it. Three actions. Courage isn't built in grand gestures—it's built in tiny, repeated acts.
Proud Books uses real British heroes to teach values like courage, fairness, and persistence—in stories designed for ages 5-7.
Coming Autumn 2026. Get the free sample chapter now.
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