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It’s summer time, and your little ones are likely spending more time with you then ever. Puppets are great for getting creative, being interactive with each other, imaginative play, discovering your little one’s artistic side (or encouraging it) and so much more. An activity your children will not tire of, and not to worry when bad weather rears it’s head- get ready for the dog days of summer with some fun and interesting playthings.
Folkmanis makes some of the nicest puppets around- the most lifelike, high quality, and amazing variety. From large, very articulated puppets with mouths, wings, arms, legs- etc that all work on the same puppet, to more basic finger puppets that are placed over one digit and moved, you can find more options and get a great value for your dollar.
Starting at $8.50, you can bring home every species imaginable, and even some not (like monsters) to put on a show and get creative. This year they also included 9 new “Little Puppets”, or traditional hand puppets, that are small in size but huge in play value. They each have working mouths and hands, and include frogs, dragons, and unicorns to name a few. Some of their fun and unusual new larger puppets for this year include a money in a barrel (which can truly go all the way inside with the lid closed), and an alpaca (my son’s personal favorite) as well as a Sky Dragon whose wings, arms, mouth, and more can all be worked- and you get to practice your dexterity figuring how to move them all at once.
For more, go to http://www.folkmanis.com
Melissa and Doug make a classic puppet theater that is one of the cutest I have seen. My son and I enjoyed putting on shows behind the red curtains, and he can even write the name of “his show” or the times he wants to preform it on the chalkboard on the bottom. There is a “clock” which shows the time of the next show as well. He felt very authentic in his puppetry craft and his performances with this theater, and it has not been allowed out of my living room, because he needs to produce shows for all our guests, as well.
Melissa and Doug also makes a line of puppets, from princes, princesses, and pirates to dragons and more. The adorable dragon has a silly forked tongue, big googly eyes and friendly, expressive face as well as a stick (removable) in one arm that can be used to help manipulate him. Of course, it can also be used traditionally.
For more, go to http://www.melissaanddoug.com
For a different, less traditional take on puppets, check out Educational Insights’ “puppets on a stick”. The original set (of three) are oversized , meant to inspire dramatic play with silly faces, movable mouths, googly eyes. They move their mouths by using a small, easy glide and child sized lever near the bottom of the stick that your thumb (or any finger) pushes up and down. A newer version, The Sea Squad, feature four different sea creatures in bright colors with happy, goofy faces. Both sets are cute, funny, interesting, and sure to bring a smile to any child or adult’s face who sees them. In fact- every adult and child who has seen them has “borrowed” them for a bit from my son, creating instant playmates of every age.
For more, go to http://www.educationalinsights.com
Who doesn’t love puppets? I’ve loved them since I was a child back in the 60’s. I remember one year for Christmas I received a talking Porkey the pig puppet and my brother a talking Mr. Ed. They had those pull string boxes.