“Don’t throw that in the trash, please” I said to my young daugther. “It can be used to create a puppet.”

I said these words many times when my children were young and the family wasn’t surprised to hear them. When my son was five years old he collected boxes and scraps for me to use to make puppets.

A puppet really can be any object which is controlled by someone to give the impression of life. With this definition, almost anything can be used as a puppet. Personally, I have used cereal boxes, mops and brooms, and just about everything in between. I’m not the only one, in fact, I’ve learned a lot about making puppets by others who do the same.

You can easily transform socks into puppets by placing them on your hand, then moving your thumb and fingers in a yakking motion. For more ease of movement, cut a slit in the toe of the sock for the mouth and sew in an oval-shaped piece of felt. Add some eyes and hair and your new friend is complete.

For most types of puppets, buttons, sequins, or felt cut in shapes can be used for eyes. Wiggle eyes may be purchased from a craft supplier. Thread, cord, fake fur, felt, or yarn is useful for hair. Ribbons and scraps of lace and cloth will add the finishing touches.

You can even make a puppet from two washcloths sewn together. They’ll be similar to a mitten. Glue or sew some items on the one side to make a face and use your hand inside.

Finger puppets are easy and fun. Take an empty paper towel roll or toilet paper roll, cut in in smaller sections, and use crayons or markers to draw a face. You can even glue on items for the face if you’d like.

Stick puppets are easily created by using a simple white handkerchief. Stuff the center with cotton balls or batting and tie it lollipop fashion on a stick or a pencil. Or, choose several large pictures of people or animals from a magazine. Cut them out and mount them on cardboard and trim. Attach a stick to the back of the cardboard for a handle.

What about that wooden spoon in the kitchen? By drawing a face on the bowl of the spoon, adding hair and a ribbon or bow tie, another puppet has been created.

To hide behind while performing the puppet show, you can use a small table turned on it’s side. Also, you could simply hide behind a chair or even a large piece of cardboard folded and stood up.

If you’re interested in using puppets with children, take a walk through you house and look for some old items that you can use creatively. There is no limit to what you can make! Very soon you will have a few puppets and you’ll be able to put on your first puppet show.

Ann Shorb is a counselor, speaker, and writer. Her website includes several free puppet skits that can be downloaded for your own use, plus a book of scripts that can be purchased.

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