As parents and caregivers, technically we should be the ones “pulling the strings,” as the saying goes. But we know that’s rarely true. Besides—pretty awesome stuff can happen when we let our littles take the lead.
That’s what today’s at home activity is all about. By taking a familiar toy or stuffy (one with limbs that move easily) and turning it into a marionette, your little ones will have a whole new way to play. They’ll work on their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, plus their sense of self expression and creativity will come alive.
So grab a flexible toy and some string and let your littles be the puppeteers.
Marionette Play
Benefits:
Hand eye coordination and fine motor skill to manipulate the strings of the puppet
Dramatic play
Creativity and imagination
Oral language and communication
Self-confidence and self-expression
Empathy and expression of emotions
Kids will:
Get creative and imaginative with this dramatic playtime. Using easy to find objects around your home and some strings, you can make some fun marionettes!
What you will need:
String or yarn
Stuffed animals or dolls with floppy limbs (think sock monkey)
Sticks, rulers, or dowel rods about 12 inches long
How to:
Find a toy that has limbs that move easily. Tie a long string to the end of each limb.
To wake up your puppet, start by laying the toy down on a table or the floor and then gently lay the string above the toy and tie each string to either end of a stick one to two feet above.
Use one stick for each set of limbs. For example, one stick would be for the arms, while the other stick would be for the legs.
If the toy is heavy or too floppy you can tie the body of the toy to the stick with the arms.
Holding one stick in each hand, lift the toy up off the table and experiment how the doll moves on the strings. You can help it dance, walk, or fly around your room!
To simplify, try tying only the arms to your rod or stick.