CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

FITTING IN (KIDLIT)



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HELPFUL TIP:

To understand why your character is driven toward a certain goal, get to know their positive and negative traits, as well as any significant emotional wounds that might be motivating them. Then you can explore the various kinds of conflict that could block them as they move toward their goal.
FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Finding one's place in a new school
Making friends with kids in a new neighborhood
Joining a group (Scouts, a youth program, etc.) and finding others who offer acceptance
Developing a good relationships with step-siblings
Finding other kids who share the same interest
Finding acceptance for a disability or condition
Discovering common ground even if there's a language barrier
Finding a playmate at lunch or recess
Finding a lunch partner in the cafeteria
Making friends on the school bus
Finding a partner for a school project
Being accepted by one's teammates
Gaining the courage to ask to be included

HUMAN NEED DRIVING THE GOAL (INNER MOTIVATION):
There are five basic human needs that, when missing from a character's life, could motivate them to pursue this goal. The following needs are all possibilities, but only one of them should be the primary driver for any given character. For more information on the relationship between human needs and outer motivations, please see​ this ​Character Motivation tutorial.

Esteem and Recognition: At this age a child's self-worth is often tied to peer acceptance, and so to achieve it, they will seek out relationships. 
Love and Belonging: The need to belong will push the character to enter situations where acceptance is possible, even when it means taking risks to overcome any barriers that might prevent this from happening.
Safety and Security: A need to be safe from the physical or mental abuse of others who like to target those they perceive as weaker will send the character to seek out a group where they belong.

HOW THE CHARACTER MAY PREPARE FOR THIS GOAL:
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POSSIBLE SACRIFICES OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL:
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ROADBLOCKS WHICH COULD PREVENT THIS GOAL FROM BEING ACHIEVED:
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TALENTS & SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THE CHARACTER ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:
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WHAT'S AT STAKE IF THIS GOAL ISN'T MET?
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