Let’s learn how to make puppets!
Puppetry has been used for thousands of years to entertain both children and adults. Using a puppet is a great way to enhance imagination, creativity and communication skills. It is also a great way of bringing a story or a character to life, and creates vision to a simple story.
Puppets can be easily made – you can use a variety of objects, fabrics or devices and turn it into a puppet. You can also purchase ready-made puppets online, but making a puppet at home with your little one, is a great way to introduce creativity to a child in a fun and unique way.
Here are 3 very simple puppets you can make together with your toddler.
1. Sock puppets
This is probably the most used ‘at home’ puppet and for a reason! Making a sock puppet is one of the easiest to make for you and your child.
What you will need:
- Socks
- Crafty Bits
- (Extra tip – you can use teddy bear stuffing or soft material to add weight to your puppet)
For a more advanced sock puppet you’ll also need:
- Card
- Glue Gun (Optional)
- Felt
How to make it:
Get a clean sock and make a “C type” shape with your hand. Put your fingers into the toe part. Try to get your thumb into the heel part. Then there you go you can start talking with your puppet!
Have your toddler also mimic these actions too, it is great for learning and fun!
To make a more advanced sock puppet you will need a glue gun and cardboard. You will need to cut out the toe part of the socks using scissors.
Cut a small oval the same size as your toe pattern. Glue the sock to the side edges of the oval. Pull a bit of the sock over the side edge of the oval by about a centimetre.
You can use red felt and glue the inside of the mouth. Add material or teddy stuffing to add weight to your puppet. And voila! You have now made a puppet for you and your child to enjoy!
2. Wooden spoon puppets:
Wooden spoons are a fun way to turn a house hold object into a fun character.
What you will need:
- A wooden spoon
- A felt tip pen
- Googly eyes
- Crafty bits
How to make it:
You can make the puppets face using a felt tip pen. In order to enhance your child’s learning, say each part of the face out loud to your toddler whilst you are drawing them – ‘Eyes, nose and mouth’.
There you go! Another great puppet for you and your child to have fun with.
3. Stick puppets
What you will need:
- Printable Characters
- Lollipop Sticks
- Glue
- Colouring pencils or felt tips
How to make it:
Go online and find a printable character or you can draw a character yourself. Colour the character in – the more colours the better I say!
You can also paint your lollipop stick to any fun colour to match your printable colour.
Once your happy with the character, cut it out (if necessary) and using a little bit of glue, stick it to the top of your lollipop stick.
Now it’s time to give your puppet a name and get playing!
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Now you have four great ‘at home’ puppets to choose from for you and your child to have lots of fun with.
So which puppet will you make? Please send us a photo of your creations!
Safety message – Please do remember to keep an eye on your toddler whilst making the puppets, and ensure they do not put any of the parts into their mouth.
