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!!!
Seymour's new friend (8015 downloads ) Puppet audio file that allows you to simply hit play and do a puppet skit. This puppet skit consists of 1 male puppet and 1 female puppet. It is about peer pressure and what can happen if you listen to the wrong friends.
Peer pressure – we all deal with it even if we are not kids, but kids sometimes do not know how to handle it. This puppet skit will help them do that, they will realize what listening to the wrong kids can get them… no where but trouble. I like this skit because I used to be that “new friend” and would lead kids in the wrong direction, nothing bad I was just being a kid… Got a lot of spankings 🙂
Great is God and greatly to be praised!!!
Bro. James
You will need to select the stars for you show. This may depend on the size of your audience and its age group. If it is for a classroom size of children, you can use hand puppets. They are simple to operate. You simply place your hand in the character. Your fingers and thumb will be the arms. Practicing in front of the mirror will help you in “creating the attitude” for your character. Remember to always ensure that the puppet is facing towards the kids. Many times puppeteers will grow weary and the puppets find themselves looking skyward and not at the kids. Make it personal for the kids, look at them, talk to them!!! They will love it.
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!!!!
Check out the audio download section for a free puppet audio file that you simply hit play and do a skit right along with it. There are sound effects and voices already done.