How to Make Hand Puppets for Children

Your Child's Imagination is the Only Limit!

Whether it's because of rain, snow or a mild illness, children who have to spend a lot of time indoors can become restless if there isn't something for them to do that is completely engaging. One of the best ways to battle boredom is to make hand puppets for children and then let them use their imaginations to bring them to life. Simple and easy to make, hand puppets can brighten the dreariest day.

Things You'll Need

• Old newspaper
• Paper lunch bags
• Poster paint
• Craft paint brushes
• Scissors
• Construction paper
• Yarn
• Craft glue

Instructions

1. Spread out some old newspaper on a table to protect it from paint and glue.

2. Lay a paper bag on the table. Do not open it, but place it so the bottom of the bag (that is folded flat) is facing upward. The bottom of the bag will become the "face" of your hand puppet. The mouth of the puppet is formed where the edge of the bottom of the bag forms a "flap." If you place your hand in the bag and put your fingers into this flap, you will be able to open and close your hand to make your hand puppet "talk."

3. Using poster paint and some craft brushes, decorate the bag. Paint the face on the flap of the bag, and paint clothes on the "body" of the bag. Usually only the upper lip of a hand puppet is painted on the edge of the flap.

4. Cut out shapes from your construction paper to make hands, ears or even a crown, if you like. If you want to make arms for your puppet, cut a strip of construction paper about 1-inch wide by 6-inches long. Fold the paper in 1/2-inch segments like an accordion, with each fold in a different direction. Attach the arm to the paper bag by gluing one of the segments to the side of the bag. Glue the hands to the end of the arm.

5. Use thick yarn to make hair for your puppet by cutting it to the desired length and gluing it on. Make sure you wait an hour before using your hand puppet to make sure all the paint and glue is dry.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use your construction paper and glue to help your children make 3D beaks and hats for their hand puppets. Just cut a large triangle of paper and fold it in half with the points of the edges aligned, then fold back a small section of the base and place your glue there before joining it to the bag.

• Don't glue anything heavier then paper or yarn onto a paper hand puppet, or the paper bag might tear.

References

• Enchanted Learning

Resources

• 101 Hand Puppets
• Performing With Puppets