Puppets can be fascinating. Children know that puppets are not alive. And yet, they move and talk like real living things. Try making one at home.  Let your party guests make a puppet to take home.  Divide the guests into small groups. Have each group make up a puppet show and perform for the other guests.  You could have judges select the best skits and award prizes.

Puppet in a Cup
(4 - 7 Year olds)
Give each child one paper cup, one plastic spoon and some type of themed stickers.

Have the child place a sticker of one of their favorite characters on the back side of the spoon. (Curved side facing them.)

Poke a hole in the bottom of the paper cup with a pen point and slide in the handle end of the spoon.

When the child pushes the spoon up and down, the puppet will pop up and then retreats back into the cup.

Get creative and use yarn, felt, wiggle eyes, beads, etc. to embellish the puppet. Don’t forget to write the child’s name on the cup as well.

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Drawing Courtesy of PartyMerchant.com

Sock Puppets & Finger Puppets
(1-3 Year olds)

What to do:
1. Sock puppet. Use an old clean sock. Sew on buttons for eyes and nose. Paste or sew on a piece of red fabric for the mouth. Put a bow made from ribbon at the neck.

2. Finger puppets. Cut the ends off the fingers of an old glove. Draw faces on the fingers with felt tipped pens. Glue yarn on for hair.  Put the finger puppets on your fingers. 

3. Have the puppets talk to your child. "Hello. I hope you have a great party." "Happy Birthday!" Or have the puppets sing a simple song like "Happy Birthday" to your child.  Change your voice when the puppet talks or sings.

4. Encourage children to speak to the puppet or join the singing.

5. Put finger puppets on your child to give him/her practice moving his/her fingers one at a time.

6. After the party if you want help cleaning up, have the puppet make the request: "Hello, children, let's put these crayons back in the box and these toys back on the shelves. Can you get me the ball?"

What you'll need
-An old clean sock
-Buttons (larger than 1 inch in   diameter to prevent swallowing)
-Needle and thread
-Red fabric Ribbon
-An old glove
-Felt-tipped pens
-Nontoxic glue
-Yarn

Drawing Courtesy of PartyMerchant.com

 

 Make-Your-Own Monster Puppet

Create hundreds of crazy creatures with this fuzzy friend and its interchangeable parts! Carrying case is filled with weird and wacky eyes, ears, antennae and more for quirky creativity. Suction cup hands are included for window display. Measurements 13.5" x 8" x 8".