Without conflict, a story has no plot. It would just be a list of ordinary events, like planning to go to an ice cream parlor or spending the day looking for seashells.
I see a lot of these types of stories as a children’s rewriter and coach.
The thing is, conflict makes the story interesting and keeps the young reader invested enough to keep reading to see how the character solves the problem.
But a strong protagonist needs more than a problem to solve.
The character needs a conflict that matters to them, something that challenges them, creates obstacles, and gives them a reason to keep moving forward.
In children’s books, it’s easy to fall into the trap of creating a straightforward problem and then having the protagonist solve it. While a clear, age-appropriate problem is essential, a story becomes much more engaging when the conflict has depth.
So, how can you add depth to your protagonist’s conflict without making the story too complicated for young readers?
HERE ARE 6 TIPS WITH EXAMPLES TO ADD DEPTH TO CONFLICT
1. Give the Protagonist Something Personal at Stake
Children care about things like fairness, belonging, feeling heard, or losing a friend’s trust.
The protagonist’s problem should matter to them personally. It’s not enough for something to go wrong; readers need to understand why it matters to the character.
For example, imagine a young girl who wants to enter a school art contest. The surface conflict is that she needs to finish her painting before the deadline.
But what if she is entering because she wants to prove to herself that she’s just as talented as a classmate? Now, there’s more at stake than simply completing a painting.
Her desire to win is connected to how she sees herself. This gives the reader another reason to care about the outcome.
When developing a story, ask yourself: Why does this particular problem matter so much to my protagonist?
When creating your character’s conflict and stakes, scale the problem to the emotional size of a child. A broken crayon or a misunderstood joke can feel like a genuine tragedy to a young reader if you treat it with emotional honesty.
2. Introduce the Conflict
There are two types of conflict: internal and external.
Internal conflicts involve the character’s thoughts, feelings, fears, or beliefs.
Together they can create a more compelling story.
External conflicts involve something happening in the protagonist’s world.
Combining these two conflict types adds depth to your conflict.
For example, a boy who wants to join the school soccer team might face an external obstacle: he isn’t as skilled as the other players.
But his internal conflict might be that he’s afraid of embarrassing himself in front of his friends. Even when he has opportunities to practice and improve, his fear holds him back.
Now, the story isn’t just about learning to play soccer. It’s also about finding the courage to try something difficult.
The internal conflict should connect naturally to the external problem, not feel like an unrelated issue added to the story.
3. Make the Obstacles Build on One Another
A common weakness in children’s manuscripts is that the protagonist encounters a problem, overcomes it, and then faces another problem that has little connection to the first or doesn’t escalate the tension.
Instead, try to make the obstacles build on one another.
Each setback should make the situation more challenging or force the protagonist to approach the problem differently.
For example, a child who wants to build a treehouse might first discover that the wood is too short. After finding more wood, the child realizes that the design isn’t sturdy enough. A second attempt fails because the measurements are wrong.
These obstacles aren’t random. Each one grows out of the protagonist’s original goal, builds on the last, and increases the protagonist’s frustration.
More importantly, each setback gives the protagonist another chance to think, make decisions, and take action.
4. Layer the Conflict with Complications
Using the scenario of the treehouse. Suppose he’s building the treehouse because he’s new to the neighborhood and is trying to make friends. Now you have a consequence if he doesn’t build it. This gives the conflict more depth.
Another scenario is when a character tries to fix things but it accidentally makes the situation worse.
For example, if a character struggles with his grades. He fails his test and lies to his classmates. Now there is social anxiety involved.
5. Give the Protagonist a Flaw or Misguided Belief to Overcome
A character’s conflict becomes more meaningful when the protagonist has a mistaken belief, stubbornness, or other flaw that contributes to the problem.
For example, a girl who wants to be the fastest runner in her class might believe that asking for help makes her look weak.
When she struggles to improve her running time, she refuses to listen to her coach or accept advice from her friends.
Her misguided belief makes the conflict harder to resolve. Eventually, she realizes that accepting help doesn’t make her less capable.
This doesn’t mean every children’s book needs a major character flaw or a deep personal transformation. The change should be appropriate for the story’s age group and scope.
Sometimes, a small shift in attitude or understanding is all that’s needed.
6. Make the Resolution Reflect the Protagonist’s Growth
The ending should feel earned. Ideally, the protagonist’s final success comes from something they learned, realized, or changed along the way.
If a character spends the entire story struggling with a problem, only for someone else to step in and solve it, the reader misses the satisfaction of seeing the protagonist succeed through their own efforts.
This doesn’t mean the protagonist must accomplish everything alone. Other characters can offer support, advice, or assistance. But the main character should play an active role in resolving the central conflict.
For example, the young artist who entered the school contest might not win first place. She may, though, discover that she enjoys painting for herself rather than constantly comparing her work to a classmate’s.
That realization can provide a satisfying ending because it addresses the deeper conflict introduced at the beginning.
SUMMING IT UP
Adding depth to a protagonist’s conflict doesn’t mean adding more characters, subplots, or problems. In fact, too many conflicts can overwhelm a children’s story and distract from its central purpose.
Instead, focus on making the main conflict meaningful to the protagonist.
-Give the character a reason to care
-Introduce obstacles that challenge them
-Let their decisions and actions move the story forward
When the external problem and internal struggle work together, the result is a stronger, more engaging story.
Remember, young readers don’t need complicated plots to connect with a character. They need characters they can relate to, whose problems feel real, whose struggles matter, and whose journeys leave them with something worth remembering.
Writing for Children and Internal Dialogue
The What and How of Writing Realistic Fiction
Five Types of Children’s Story Endings with Examples
I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, book doctor, editor, and self-publishing consultant. I help turn your idea, outline, or manuscript into a book you’ll be proud to call your own—and provide hands-on guidance through every step of the self-publishing process.
OTHER HELP I OFFER:
HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK
A 200+ page book that will help you write your own children’s book.
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WRITERS ON THE MOVE SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDANCE & SERVICES
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You can contact me at kcioffiventrice@gmail.com.
