How to make a hand puppet for kids
Making hand puppets is a fun and easy project that kids can do at home. You can make your own puppet family by yourself or gather your friends for a puppet making party. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Basic Hand Puppet
This is the easiest of all because you just need your hand and some washable markers. Make a fist and draw eyes, eyebrows, a nose, and a mouth. You can even add some colourful hair if you like. To make your hand puppet appear to talk you will move your thumb and fingers. This will take a little practice, but you will have your puppet performing songs and telling riddles and jokes in just a short while.
Sock Hand Puppet
Another easy project is to make a puppet out of an old sock, any sock can work. Even a sock that has a hole or two can be turned into a special puppet with a little thought and creativity. You can use markers to design the facial features once you have placed the sock on your hand and located where you want the face to appear. Using your fingers as the top of the mouth and your thumb for the bottom lip, you can make a great puppet that has a really big mouth for loud singing. Instead of just using markers use glue to attach beads, ribbons and other features. The craft stores have stick on eyes, pipe cleaners, feathers and other small items that are very inexpensive and will give your sock puppet a splendid look. These can be attached with craft glue or you can ask an adult to help with a hot glue gun. This can burn your fingers so always let your parents or another adult do this part.
Glove Puppet Family
Even a glove can double as a hand puppet; in fact, a glove can instantly create an entire puppet family. Use an old glove and draw faces on each finger. You can add bits of cloth for clothing and give each puppet hair or glue a small bit of wool to the tops of the fingers for hats. By wiggling and bending your fingers, you can let each of your 5 new puppets have a turn in the spotlight.
Paper Bag Puppet
A brown paper bag from the grocer can make a wonderful puppet for anyone. The flat fold at the bottom is for the mouth and you will be able to operate it with your four fingers. You might want to practice this first and this will help you determine the best face to give your new puppet. You can use crayons, coloured pencils or markers to create a face and body on the paper bag, but you can also add other features just like those listed on the sock puppet. You can even use large feathers on the side of the bag to make wings for a really unique bird puppet.
This is an original news article © The Kids Window
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