PUPPETS are a wonderful way to enjoy art and drama and to develop language skills.
They can be used with all ages of children.  The youngest children can watch you perform and talk to the puppet.  Starting at about age 3 the children can help make the puppets and put on simple ‘shows.’  You can make a puppet from almost anything.  Here are some ideas to get you started.

Finger puppets:
♦ Draw a face on your fingertip.
♦ Draw on strips of paper and tape them around your fingers to make different characters.
♦ Decorate the fingertips of an old glove with felt, yarn for hair and beads or buttons for eyes;
make a whole family on one hand.
♦ Cut out simple animal or people outlines on cardboard.  Do not include legs or feet but leave a wide bottom edge.  Cut out two holes near the bottom – large enough to put a finger through each hole.  Your fingers can make this kind of puppet dance or walk.
♦ Almost anything slipped over your fingertip can make a puppet – try making faces on a paper cup, or a ball.  Put a cloth napkin over your hand first to give the puppet some clothes.
♦ A toilet paper tube can be used vertically for a soldier or other figure, or horizontally for a dragon or other long animals.  Just put the tube over your finger to make it move.
Stick puppets:
♦ Make a drawing of an animal or person and glue it to the end of a Popsicle stick.  You can drawhair or make the hair more interesting using curled paper.
♦ Cut out photographs of members of the family or friends and glue them to sticks.  You can act out real family events.
Sock Puppets:
♦ A simple puppet can be made from an old sock by adding hair and eyes.  Put your thumb in the heel and your fingers in the toe of the sock to make the mouth.
♦ For a fancier version cut a plastic lid in half and then tape it together to make a hinge.  Glue this mouth in place at the toe end of a sock.  This makes a great dragon.
Paper Bag Puppets:
♦ Take a lunch size paper bag and draw a face on the flap at the bottom of the bag.  Glue on hair, ears or other features.  Put your hand inside the bag.  Move the flap up and down to make the puppet talk.
♦ To make an owl glue or draw eyes under the flap.  Draw eyelids and eyelashes on the flap.  Add wings, ears and feet.  When you move the flap up and down the owl will blink.
Making a Stage for the Puppets
♦ Hide behind the back of a couch.
♦ Use the edge of a table covered with a tablecloth or turn a table on its side on the floor.
♦ Balance a mop handle or broom stick between two chairs and hang a large towel or blanket over the stick to make a stage.
♦ Make a puppet theatre out of a large cardboard box (appliance size).  Cut a window for the
puppets.  Operate the puppets from inside.

Enjoy the show!