Puppet and shadow play for kids

Safety first

A grown-up should do all the cutting with scissors, and children should only tear or fold paper. Use child-safe glue or sticky tape, keep it away from mouths and eyes, and wash hands afterwards. Put small stuck-on parts, such as buttons, out of reach of children under three, who may put them in their mouths. For shadow play, use a cool bulb such as an LED torch or lamp, because hot bulbs can burn. A grown-up sets up the light and checks that the cable is out of the way. Never shine a torch into anyone's eyes, including your own, and always point the beam at the wall. Switch the light off when you finish.

1. Sock puppets, no sewing

Age hint: 4 and up, or 3 with help.

Materials: a clean sock, child-safe glue or sticky tape, scraps of paper or felt, and a marker.

1. Slide the sock over your hand and press your fingers against your thumb to make a mouth.
2. Take it off and lay it flat. Ask a grown-up to cut eyes, ears or a tongue from scraps.
3. Stick the pieces on, pressing each one down for a few seconds.
4. Add a nose or spots with the marker, and let the glue dry before you play.

Try: Give your puppet a favourite food and a worry.

2. Paper-bag puppets

Age hint: 3 and up.

Materials: a small paper bag, crayons, paper scraps and glue.

1. Keep the bag folded flat with the bottom flap facing you. The flap is the head.
2. Draw a face on the flap, with the mouth right under the fold.
3. Stick paper ears, hair or a hat above it.
4. Put your hand inside and open and close the flap to talk.

Try: Make two bags and let them have a polite argument that ends in a laugh.

3. Finger puppets from paper rings

Age hint: 4 and up.

Materials: a strip of paper about as long as your finger is round, tape, crayons and scraps.

1. Wrap the strip loosely round a finger and tape the ends so it slides on and off easily.
2. Draw a face on the ring, or stick on tiny ears, a beak or whiskers.
3. Make one ring for each finger on a hand.
4. Wiggle them to make a family, a flock or a class.

Try: Let each finger say hello in its own voice.

4. A stick-puppet box theatre

Age hint: 6 and up to build, 4 and up to play.

Materials: a cardboard box, flat sticks or rolled paper tubes, paper, crayons, tape and glue.

1. Stand the box on its side so the open side faces the audience.
2. Ask a grown-up to cut a long slot in the bottom edge of the back, wide enough for sticks to slide through.
3. Draw characters on paper, colour them, and tape each one to a stick. Draw a backdrop and stick it inside the box.
4. Hold the sticks from behind and slide the characters across the stage.

Try: Make a character that pops up from the bottom and one that glides across.

5. A hand-shadow story

Age hint: 4 and up.

Materials: a cool-bulb torch or lamp, a plain light wall and a darkened room.

1. A grown-up sets the light on a steady surface, a little way back, pointing at the wall and away from faces.
2. Sit beside the beam, not in front of it, and hold your hands in the light.
3. Make a bird by crossing your wrists, hooking your thumbs together and flapping your fingers like wings, or a dog by holding your first two fingers out as a snout with your thumb up as an ear, then opening and closing the snout to bark.
4. Move closer to the light for a bigger shadow and further away for a smaller one.

Try: Tell a story about a small shadow who meets a big one.

6. The one-minute puppet show

Age hint: 5 and up, and fun for mixed ages.

Materials: any puppet or shadow from this page, and a timer.

1. Beginning (about 15 seconds): your puppet appears and says who it is and what it wants.
2. Middle (about 30 seconds): something gets in the way, and the puppet tries to solve it.
3. End (about 15 seconds): the problem is solved or a surprise happens, and the puppet takes a bow.
4. Ask the audience to say one thing they liked.

Try: Plan the three parts with three fingers before you begin.

More to do on Rangooo

Find more things to make in easy paper crafts and recycled crafts, plan your plot with storytelling activities at home, try sunshine and shadow activities, browse more stories and activities, or see resources for teachers.

Questions

What age is right for puppet play?

Most children from about three can enjoy a puppet that a grown-up helps make. Older children can build the box theatre and plan a show on their own. Age hints are only a guide, so you know your child best.

Do we need to sew anything?

No. Every puppet here is held together with glue or sticky tape. A clean sock, a paper bag or a strip of paper is the base, and decoration is stuck on rather than stitched.

Is it safe to use a torch for shadows?

Yes, with care. Use a cool bulb such as an LED torch or lamp, let a grown-up set it up, and keep the beam pointing at the wall. Never shine it into anyone's eyes, and switch it off when the show ends.

What if my child is shy about performing?

Let the puppet do the talking. Many children feel braver when the audience watches the puppet, not them. Start with a show for one soft toy, and keep it to a single minute.