Hand operated characters will work well in their own little stage. You will need room to operate your tiny entertainers, without being seen. A stand may work. Many people use a curtain. We build our stages from PVC pipe and curtains. We have found that using snap-on buttons for the curtain allows for easier setting up and breaking down of the stage. A simple snap and a pair of pliers will work wonders also. The snaps can be bought at any local hobby store. Using hand operated puppets do give more life to your characters and using arm rods you can point, clap and act out with your character… it does take a little practice. The more animated you are with your puppet the more the kids love it. I once in just playing around put a puppet up in the window of the daycare office door and within minutes I had attracted over 35 kids to the door of the gym. They had stopped playing and begin migrating to the floor in front of where I was. I did nothing more than act up and move around with the puppet. Playing a simple game of hide and peek they loved it!!!! For the next 15 minutes I entertained the kids and the daycare providers with one puppet in a doorway!!! Amazing!!!
You have to love the simplicity of it all!!!
A puppet ministry can be a very good way to teach religion to children. They have a universal appeal to all. You can make it a fun experience for your young people. With very little resources and a creative mind your ministry can take on a life of its own. Not only will you educate and entertain the kids but you will find that adults find it entertaining also. On our last 4th of July puppet show we had over 150 people show up to watch the puppets, approx 90 of that 150 were adults. The adults walked away talking and laughing about the puppet show, which was translated into donations and support in our next fund raising event for the kids. So, put on your thinking cap and get creative!!!
For done-for-you audio puppet skits check out our audio download page… These mp3 files are ready to go… simply burn them to a CD and hit play and raise the puppets up… the rest is left up to you!!!!