Archive for the 'Hand Puppets' Category
Performing puppet shows at home is entertaining for parents and helps to foster your child’s creativity. In addition, it’s just an all around fun activity in which everyone can participate. To put on your own puppet show, you will need at least two hand puppets (the more the merrier), an object which your children can conceal themselves behind (a couch or portable stage works great), and a few props like paintbrushes, spatulas, rolling pins, etc. Once you have all these items, encourage your children to put on a show for you. Parents will be amazed at all the creative characters and situations children imagine.
Hand puppets come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes, and represent characters from the animal kingdom to the pirates of the Caribbean. Purchase the hand puppets you think your child will identify with the most.
One of my favorite childhood memories is when my parents would read me my bedtime story. I could never fall asleep without at least a short tale, but it seems like this time-tested tradition is falling to the wayside. Today kids are content on going to sleep to the glow of their Game Boy or the sounds of their iPod.
Reading to your child is important, as it lays the groundwork for a lifelong devotion to literature and education in general. If your child is resistant to sitting down to listen to a story, try to make it more engaging for them. Read the characters’ voices in a different tone, or try bringing the story to life through the use of hand puppets.
It seems that children have the most fleeting attention spans in the world, and it’s hard to keep any child entertained by one object or activity for long. That’s why every parent and babysitter needs an arsenal of toys and activities to have on hand at all times to prevent boredom. Especially on rainy days when outside play is impossible, kids need constant stimulation. It’s a good idea to have imagination-inspiring toys and activities prepared in addition to regular toys.
Crafts are always a good way to go, but kids can have endless fun putting on a puppet show using hand puppets. Let each child choose a hand puppet and devise characters, a plot, dialogue and props. Have them practice their show, and then organize the rest of the family to watch the final show. Serve snacks and drinks for a refreshing treat afterward! Encourage the kids to come up with different stories every week to keep their imaginations running.
Many parents are concerned about how much television their children watch on a daily basis, because they are afraid that it is a large chunk of their day where they aren’t using their imagination or having any significant thought at all. For that reason, if you are concerned about this issue, let your kids know that you’ll be taking the TV out of its cherished spot in the living room one day a week. Remove it to the garage or some other location, and with that gaping hole, create something imaginative like a show with hand puppets.
This, of course, works best with young children. But if you have young children in the house, you’d be surprised at how engaged they’ll become with this real life “TV show.” Have them help make sets for the puppet shows or even hats or other accessories for the puppets themselves. And if you throw your time and energy into these shows, you might even hear your kids clambering for you to haul the TV out of the living room on more than one night a week.
Rainy days are a great time to indulge in family fun. There’s no reason to let your kids mope around and stare out the windows all day. Why not build a puppet stage and put on a puppet show that the whole family can enjoy. All you need is a few pieces of card board and a couple saw horses.
Next you’ll need to gather some hand puppets. You can easily order these puppets online and keep them in your craft closet for a rainy day. Give each of your children a hand puppet and let them create their own character. There are so many stories and themes to choose from you are sure to find one your entire family will like.