Fun Activities for Kids, Families, and Teachers

Puppets

Preschool children love to play and improvise with puppets. Self expression and creativity in children can be enhanced through puppet play. Communication between preschool leaders and children can also be improved, reluctant talkers can be encouraged to hold forth whilst learning to embrace the wonder of creative dramatics. Having children assist in the production of home made puppets make them the obvious choice. Puppets come in different shapes, sizes and types and are generally categorized under the following headings:

Hand puppets - are somewhat like a three fingered glove comprising a fabric body with a hole for each arm and one for the head. Simply trace around a child’s hand for size and use a small, light ball, foam or polystyrene ball for the head. Cut a hole in the ball to accommodate fingers and encase the ball in fabric so you can stitch or draw a face and hair. You can go wild with the fabrics you use for the body and have detachable features so that one puppet can be many characters.

Stick puppets – A stick puppet is easily made using a piece of wood with a head stuck on top. Painted or detachable features can again be used on the simple wooden ball otherwise known as the head. A piece of fabric, with holes for arms, can quickly be transformed into a magnificent cloak. A wooden spoon enveloped in just such a cloak can often double for a stick puppet should you be against the clock.

Animal puppets – Attaching obvious animal features to an old sock is an easy way to make animal puppets so, whiskers and beady eyes makes something rodent like, felt ears and a trunk generally denotes an elephant (let your imagination run wild!). Cut the head off old vinyl toys or remove the stuffing from a beat up stuffed animal and hey presto – recycled animal puppets.

Finger puppets – Stretchy fabric covering a small bead or piece of foam will suffice for these puppets. A cape style tunic is the body with a pipe cleaner running through the sleeves functioning as arms. The fabric of the head should be securely stitched to the cape. The success of a finger puppet is in the details, the tiny features and accessories make each one special.

Use an arch on top of a table or the window of a play house, complete with curtains, as a theatre or stage
upon which your puppet ensemble can strut its stuff. Now let loose your little puppeteers.
As a daycare owner and parent Fiona Lohrenz has extensive knowledge of childminding which she writes about on her child care website. She has also used this knowledge to produce a ‘Start a Daycare Business’ DVD guide: How To Start A Daycare You can find her at her Day Care Blog

This skit was written to be used with our Stage Play Felt Masks available from Story Time Felts, but you can use it with any props such as hand puppets, other masks, stuffed animals, or just use it as a reader’s theater.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

The 3 bears are sitting around the kitchen table with bowls of porridge.

Mama Bear: This porridge is much too hot! Let;s go for a walk while it cools off.

The three bears get up and leave. There is a knock on the door that they walked out of, and in comes Goldilocks. She sees the porridge, sits down at the largest bowl, and takes a bite.

Goldilocks: Oh, this is much too hot!

She moves to the middle sized bowl, and takes a bite.

Goldilocks: This is much too cold!

She moves to the smallest bowl, and takes a bite.

Goldilocks: Mmmm! This is just right!

She eats all the porridge. When she is done, she starts exploring the house, and comes upon the largest chair. She climbs in and sits down.

Goldilocks: My! This chair is very hard!

She moves to the middle sized chair and sits down.

Goldilocks: This chair is much too soft!

She moves to the smallest chair, sits down, and starts to rock.

Goldilocks: Oh! This chair is just right!

She rocks and rocks until the chair breaks! She then continues to explore, and finds the beds. She lays down on the largest bed.

Goldilocks: This bed is too hard!

She moves to the middle sized bed and lies down.

Goldilocks: Goodness! This bed is much too soft!

She moves to the smallest bed and lies down and falls fast asleep. Meanwhile, the bears return from their walk. They look at the bowls of porridge.

Papa Bear: Somebody has been eating my porridge!

Mama Bear: Somebody has been eating my porridge, too!

Baby Bear: Somebody has been eating my porridge, and ate it all gone!

The bears then go to their chairs and look at them.

Papa Bear: Somebody has been sitting in my chair!

Mama Bear: Somebody has been sitting in my chair, too!

Baby Bear: Somebody has been sitting in my chair (begins to cry), and broke it all to pieces!

Mama Bear calms Baby Bear and they all go to the beds.

Papa Bear: Somebody has been sleeping in my bed!

Mama Bear: Somebody has been sleeping in my bed, too!

Baby Bear: Somebody has been sleeping in my bed, and there she is!

Goldilocks wakes up, sees the bears, looks frightened, and runs away.

Papa Bear: I’ll bet that little girl never goes into a house uninvited again!

ALL: THE END!

Do you have dramatic children? I know I do! Here’s a fun way to channel that drama into something entertaining for the rest of the family! Use this outline to help your kids make an effective, entertaining skit! For skit props, check out the Dramatic Play area of my website! Have fun creating!

Let’s Make Up a Skit!

I. Plot: ______________________________________

II. Title: ____________________________________

III. Type of Characters: Puppets ______ Costumes _______

IV. Length of Time: ________________

V. Staging (lighting, special effects, scenery):
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

VI. Characters (enough for everyone, multiple parts are OK!)
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

VII. Location or setting of skit: _______________________

VIII. Problem to overcome: ______________________________

_________________________________________________________

IX. Obstacles: __________________________________________

X. Crisis: ______________________________________________

XI. Ending: _____________________________________________

XII. Does this skit fit your audience? __________________
Does anyone have any ideas for skits you’d like to share? What have your kids come up with that was entertaining? Tell us in the Comments area!