"Don't throw that in the trash, please" I said to my young daugther. "It can be used to create a puppet."
These were common words at our house when my children were young. My family was used to hearing them. Even at age five, my son gathered boxes and scraps to be used in my creations.
A puppet really can be any object which is controlled by someone to give the impression of life. With this definition, almost anything can be used as a puppet. Personally, I have used cereal boxes, mops and brooms, and just about everything in between. I'm not the only one, in fact, I've learned a lot about making puppets by others who do the same.
Socks are commonly used as puppets. You can do so by placing your hand inside and using your thumb and fingers to simulate a mouth motion. You can even cut a slit in the sock and use a round piece of felt sewn in to create the mouth. Buttons can be used as eyes, yarn as hair, and so on.
Things you can find around the house like old buttons or cut out felt will work for eyes on most puppets. Yard, string, or thread can be used for hair. Clothes for the puppet can be made from scraps of felt, cloth, lace, or even from old clothes.
If you have washcloths around your house that you are not using, sew two of them together (on three sides with one side open) to create a puppet. Then give it a face by sewing (or gluing) some items to the one side.
Fascinating finger puppets can be made by cutting an empty paper towel roll in thirds. Add faces and decorations with crayons and scraps of colored paper or fabric.
Stick puppets are easily created by using a simple white handkerchief. Stuff the center with cotton balls or batting and tie it lollipop fashion on a stick or a pencil. Or, choose several large pictures of people or animals from a magazine. Cut them out and mount them on cardboard and trim. Attach a stick to the back of the cardboard for a handle.
How about a quick puppet from an item that everyone has around the kitchen. Draw a face on an old wooden spoon and you've got a puppet. Add some hair with yarn if you'd like.
Need a simple stage to hide behind while using your puppets? You can use a small table laid on its side, a chair, even a large piece of cardboard. It's easy to find a suitable stage, just look around for objects that you can sit behind.
When making puppets all you really have to do is look through the house and use your creativity. You're almost certain to come up with some great ideas, and it doesn't take much before you'll have your first puppets and show for the children. - 29943
These were common words at our house when my children were young. My family was used to hearing them. Even at age five, my son gathered boxes and scraps to be used in my creations.
A puppet really can be any object which is controlled by someone to give the impression of life. With this definition, almost anything can be used as a puppet. Personally, I have used cereal boxes, mops and brooms, and just about everything in between. I'm not the only one, in fact, I've learned a lot about making puppets by others who do the same.
Socks are commonly used as puppets. You can do so by placing your hand inside and using your thumb and fingers to simulate a mouth motion. You can even cut a slit in the sock and use a round piece of felt sewn in to create the mouth. Buttons can be used as eyes, yarn as hair, and so on.
Things you can find around the house like old buttons or cut out felt will work for eyes on most puppets. Yard, string, or thread can be used for hair. Clothes for the puppet can be made from scraps of felt, cloth, lace, or even from old clothes.
If you have washcloths around your house that you are not using, sew two of them together (on three sides with one side open) to create a puppet. Then give it a face by sewing (or gluing) some items to the one side.
Fascinating finger puppets can be made by cutting an empty paper towel roll in thirds. Add faces and decorations with crayons and scraps of colored paper or fabric.
Stick puppets are easily created by using a simple white handkerchief. Stuff the center with cotton balls or batting and tie it lollipop fashion on a stick or a pencil. Or, choose several large pictures of people or animals from a magazine. Cut them out and mount them on cardboard and trim. Attach a stick to the back of the cardboard for a handle.
How about a quick puppet from an item that everyone has around the kitchen. Draw a face on an old wooden spoon and you've got a puppet. Add some hair with yarn if you'd like.
Need a simple stage to hide behind while using your puppets? You can use a small table laid on its side, a chair, even a large piece of cardboard. It's easy to find a suitable stage, just look around for objects that you can sit behind.
When making puppets all you really have to do is look through the house and use your creativity. You're almost certain to come up with some great ideas, and it doesn't take much before you'll have your first puppets and show for the children. - 29943
About the Author:
Ann Shorb is a counselor, speaker, and writer. Her website includes several puppet skits that can be downloaded for your own use, plus a book of scripts that can be purchased.
