Puppet Making for Kids – 20 Easy Puppet Craft Ideas

When parents are looking for creative and engaging craft ideas for their children, many often wonder how to make puppets for kids that are both simple to create and fun to play with. The traditional image of puppets that comes to mind might be those elaborate, beautifully crafted ones seen at local fairs or on television shows, performed by experts who bring them to life with great skill. While these can be purchased from stores, often at a high price, making homemade puppets is far more rewarding. Not only does this allow your child to play with a puppet that’s personalized just for them, but it also transforms into an exciting learning experience. Crafting puppets at home encourages children to think creatively, explore their imaginations, and even develop their fine motor skills. Read on for some amazing puppet-making ideas for kids.

DIY Puppet Craft Ideas for Children

Figuring out how you can help your children make puppets the easy way may be difficult. But the techniques are quite simple, after all. We’ve put together a list of some DIY puppet ideas that you can craft together with your kids.

1. Making Finger Puppets Using Paper

Many kids learn to use their fingers as walking human beings or animals. Just add puppets to those and you’re ready to go.

Image Credit: Pinterest

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What You Will Need

• Child-friendly scissors
• Crayons
• Glue
• Cardboard paper

How to Make

1. Draw shapes of animals on the cardboard paper, leaving enough space at the bottom for the fingers to become the legs. For certain animals, such as an elephant, you can leave space for a finger to be the trunk as well.
2. Use the scissors to cut them out properly. Once done, let your child use the crayons to paint them in the manner of his choosing. Adding creative flairs will make them create to look at as well.
3. Now, cut out holes where the fingers should go and slide the fingers there to start puppeteering them around.

2. Making Hand Puppets From Socks

When putting together hand puppets for kids, making them from old socks or even new ones isn’t as difficult as it seems.

What You Will Need

• Old socks
• Balls of wool in different colours
• Buttons
• Glue

How to Make

1. Stuff the sock with old newspapers to create a full body. This will make it easier to decorate the sock.
2. Use wool strands in short pieces as hair. Mix up colours to create some wacky characters.
3. Let the buttons act either as eyes or as actual buttons, depending on how the character is going to be. Glue them appropriately with the hair.
4. Remove all the newspaper and snug the sock over your hand. Bob the head around and your puppet is ready.

3. Using Rubber Gloves for Finger Puppets

Some easy finger puppets for kids can also be made from old or used rubber gloves lying around the house. These can add a zany style to playing with puppets as well.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Will Need

• Old rubber gloves
• Child-friendly scissors
• Wool
• Sequins
• Paints

How to Make

1. Using the scissors, cut the fingers from the rubber gloves and wear them individually on yours.
2. Let your child go nuts with decorating each finger. Use colours to decorate each finger, add hair with wool, and adding some jazz by glueing old sequins.

4. Creating Puppets With Some Yarn

These are slightly difficult to put together. But once you do, these can be a great addition to your puppet collection.

What You Will Need

• Pieces of fabric
• A ball of yarn
• Sticks or toothpicks
• Marker
• Buttons
• Glue

How to Make

1. Use some cotton wool to create a large ball and wrap some fabric around it. This becomes the head of the puppet.
2. Now glue this head on the yarn, which would be the body. Extra yarn can be used to create some hair on the head.
3. Glue the buttons to create the eyes and use the marker to add further detail to the body.
4. Once done, poke a stick in the centre of the puppet’s body. This can be used to control the puppet.

5. Using Animal Pictures as Stick Puppets

The easiest way to make stick puppets for kids is this. In just a matter of a few minutes, your puppets would be ready for your little one to play around with.

What You Will Need

• Pictures or drawings of various animals
• Child-friendly scissors
• Straws or sticks
• Cardboard

How to Make

1. Print the pictures of animals on paper and stick the paper on a large piece of cardboard.
2. Cut out the animals with scissors and place them one on a side.
3. Now, pick an animal and glue it onto a straw or a stick. Repeat with all the animals.
4. Your stick puppets are ready to go. The same can be done with cartoon characters, too.

6. Making Movable Puppets With Strings

Yet another slightly complex technique to put together a puppet; but it is guaranteed to give your little one a wonderful time once it is ready.

What You Will Need 

• Used toilet paper tubes
• Strings
• Glue
• Whitepaper
• Paints
• Scissors

How to Make

1. Begin by making two holes on both sides of the toilet paper rolls. This is where the strings will go through to control the puppet.
2. Now put one end of the string through one hole and pull it out of the other. Do it in such a manner that there is an equal length of string on each side.
3. Repeat the same with the remaining tubes. Once that is done, make one tube as the body. Tie two tubes to the front of that tube, making them the limbs of the puppet. Tie two more tubes at the other end of the central tube, making them the feet of the puppet.
4. Use white paper to wrap around the tubes or paint them in the manner of your choice to decorate the puppet as an animal or a cartoon. Use the strings to move the appropriate limbs and bring your puppet to life.

7. Making Hand Puppets Using Fabric Material

Your kid’s hands are extremely expressive in their manner of moving. Using fabric hand puppets can add to the fun of that.

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What You Will Need 

• Fabric cloth of different colours
• Permanent marker
• Glue

How to Make 

1. Decide the kind of puppet you want to make. Then use one colour of fabric to sketch out the body, and the other for the head.
2. Cut the shapes out of the fabric and glue them together. Make sure that the bases of the fabric are large enough for the hand to slide into.
3. Now, stick additional pieces of fabric on these to create ears, hands, eyes, and other shapes to decorate the puppet.
4. Let them dry fully, and then start playing around with it.

8. Making Puppets Out of Empty Boxes

Not all puppets have to look exactly like their characters. A few of those can be made using simple boxes, too.

What You Will Need

• Child-friendly scissors
• Paints
• Buttons
• Wool

How to Make

1. Begin by sketching a line right along the front and all the way to the back, exactly in the centre. Then cut along this line. This will allow the box puppet to open its mouth and speak.
2. Then colour the box and using the wool to give it hair and buttons for eyes. Cut a small opening near the top of the box, where your kid can put his hands and operate the puppet.

9. Making Puppets Out of Paper Bags

Not many puppets can be made with such simple items, and these paper bag puppets can turn out to be quite adorable.

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What You Will Need

• Paper bag
• Cardboard paper
• Glue
• Marker

How to Make

1. Draw a cartoony face on the cardboard paper.
2. Flatten the paper bag and place it on a table with the bottom flap upwards. Stick the face on the base of the paper bag.
3. Now simply slide your hand inside the paper bag and let the puppet do its talking by itself. This puppet is quite a delight for young kids.

10. Using Popsicle Sticks to Make Simple Puppets

Tiny infants can have the time of their lives with a large collection of simple puppets like these.

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What You Will Need

• Popsicle sticks
• Glue
• Paints
• Buttons

How to Make

1. Use paints and markers to decorate the Popsicle sticks in a variety of ways. Make animals, humans, or any colourful characters that you can.
2. Glue buttons or any other items that might make noise or look interesting.
3. Hand it to your toddler and let him play around with it.

11. Making Shadow Puppets With Black Paper

Shadow puppets are a fun way for kids to enjoy storytelling with their hands and light.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Will Need

• Black paper
• Child-friendly scissors
• Glue
• Straws or sticks

How to Make

1. Draw shapes of animals or objects on the black paper.
2. Use scissors to cut out the shapes.
3. Attach a straw or stick to each cut-out with glue.
4. Shine a light on a wall, hold the puppets in front of it, and watch the shadows come to life.

12. Crafting Puppet Faces Using Felt

Felt puppets allow kids to easily swap expressions and features for more interactive fun.

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What You Will Need

• Felt in various colors
• Child-friendly scissors
• Glue
• Buttons

How to Make

1. Cut out simple puppet faces from the felt.
2. Use additional felt pieces to create features like eyes, noses, and mouths.
3. Glue the features onto the face or let your child swap them out during play.

13. Making Animal Puppets With Paper Plates

Paper plate puppets can be large and fun, with easy-to-find materials.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Will Need

• Paper plates
• Paints
• Glue
• Popsicle sticks

How to Make

1. Paint the paper plates to resemble animals or characters.
2. Attach popsicle sticks to the bottom as handles.
3. Add features like ears and eyes with additional paper or craft supplies.

14. Making Puppet Hats With Cardboard

Kids can wear these puppets as hats, bringing the characters to life through their movements.

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What You Will Need

• Cardboard
• Glue
• Markers
• String

How to Make

1. Cut out large puppet faces from the cardboard.
2. Decorate the face with markers and other craft materials.
3. Attach strings to the sides so they can be worn like hats.

15. Finger Puppets With Felt and Beads

Using felt and beads, these finger puppets allow for intricate designs.

What You Will Need

• Felt
• Beads
• Glue
• Child-friendly scissors

How to Make

1. Cut out small felt shapes to fit over fingers.
2. Decorate the puppets using beads for eyes or embellishments.
3. Glue everything together and let your child enjoy their new characters.

16. Making Paper Cup Puppets

Paper cups are sturdy and can be painted to create fun characters.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Will Need

• Paper cups
• Paints
• Yarn
• Glue

How to Make

1. Paint the paper cups to create different characters or animals.
2. Glue yarn to the top of the cups to create hair.
3. Draw or glue eyes and other features to complete the puppet.

17. Crafting Spoon Puppets

Wooden spoons make a perfect base for creating whimsical puppets.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Will Need

• Wooden spoons
• Paints
• Fabric scraps
• Glue

How to Make

1. Paint faces onto the spoon head.
2. Use fabric scraps to create clothes and glue them onto the spoon handle.
3. Add features like buttons for eyes or yarn for hair.

18. Making Puppet Heads With Balloons

Balloons can be used as puppet heads for large, fun characters.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Will Need

• Balloons
• Markers
• Yarn
• Glue

How to Make

1. Inflate the balloon to a small size for easy handling.
2. Draw faces on the balloon with markers.
3. Glue yarn onto the top for hair.
4. Attach a stick to the bottom to control the puppet head.

19. Crafting Egg Carton Puppets

Turn an old egg carton into a creative puppet for kids to enjoy.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Will Need

• Empty egg carton
• Child-friendly scissors
• Paints
• Googly eyes
• Glue

How to Make

1. Cut out individual egg cups from the carton to serve as the puppet’s head or body.
2. Paint the cups in different colors to create characters or animals.
3. Glue on googly eyes and draw faces with markers.
4. Attach two cups together for more complex puppets, such as a body and head combo.

20. Making Glove Puppets

Old gloves can be transformed into fun hand puppets with simple decorations.

Image Credit: Pinterest

What You Will Need

• Old gloves
• Fabric paint
• Glue
• Felt
• Buttons

How to Make

1. Paint the fingers of the glove to represent different characters, animals, or creatures.
2. Add felt cut-outs to create features like ears, noses, or tails.
3. Use buttons to make eyes or decorations on each finger.
4. Slip on the glove and bring each finger puppet to life!

FAQs

1. How can you make puppet-making more engaging for younger kids?

For younger children, puppet-making can be more engaging by simplifying the process and using pre-cut shapes or kits. Allowing them to decorate and assemble simple puppets, such as paper-bag puppets or popsicle stick puppets, keeps the activity fun without overwhelming them. Using bright colors and easy-to-handle materials makes it easier for them to participate.

2. Is puppet-making suitable for group activities?

Absolutely! Puppet-making is an excellent group activity for children. It fosters teamwork, collaboration, and social interaction as kids can work together to create puppet shows or collaborate on designing different characters. Group puppet-making sessions can also encourage kids to share ideas, solve problems collectively, and develop leadership skills as they assign roles in their performances.

3. How can puppets be used for emotional expression and therapy?

Puppets can be a powerful tool for emotional expression and therapy. Children may find it easier to express their feelings and concerns through a puppet, as it provides a safe distance between them and their emotions. Using puppets in therapeutic settings can help children articulate their thoughts, practice social skills, and explore complex emotions in a playful and supportive environment, making it an innovative approach to emotional well-being.

These were some easy puppets to make. The task of animal puppet making for kids might seem to be overwhelming at first. But children don’t need world-class toys to play around with and be engaged. Simple ideas like these can be quick to put together and bring some long-lasting fun.

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