PUPPET MAGICPull those Strings

Using Puppets For Self Expression

Puppets are one of those wonderful inventions that have been around for aeons but continue to delight and engage kids centuries later.

Who would think that putting a couple of buttons on a funny sock, sticking it on your hands and making funny noises could be so fun. But kids love puppets. They love watching puppets and they love playing with puppets.

The success of Children’s Television Workshop has much to do with the entertaining nature of its educational content but also its engaging characters, most of which are performed by people you never see.

I remember watching an interview with Kevin Clash, the man behind the voice and performance of Sesame Street’s beloved Elmo. He noted that when kids come behind the scenes of Sesame Street, they don’t notice the puppeteers manipulating the Sesame Street character. Indeed most kids just think that the humans performing the puppets are simply there to carry their “friends” around.

Kids love performing puppets too, and there is something magic, even for the shyest child, to be able to put an element of their personality into another character, particularly one whose movements can be controlled intimately by the child.

Puppets like those put out by Folkmanis are full of character and are just waiting for a child to impart their own sense of personality and they become fully alive creatures. Once people start interacting with the puppet rather than the child, the concept of the puppet being a separate personality can start to kick in.

Once this happens the child may then feel free to express things they would not have felt uncomfortable voicing themselves. Puppets (and masks) have been used in many situations to help kids relate to the emotions they feel but cannot fully understand.

Not only that but there’s just something very appealing (for adults and kids)about speaking in a funny voice.

About the Author

Inger loves to write and has been writing words on paper for quite some time. When the Internet came along she started writing online too. You can see her latest website which helps parents to chose the best puppets for kids at http://www.puppetsforkids.org

Folkmanis Puppets

WOODBADGE FOLKMANIS BEAVER PUPPET WOOD BADGE $26.95

FOLKMANIS BROWN BEAR HAND PUPPET PLUSH 11″ ANIMAL $25.93

FOLKMANIS PLUSH FINGER PUPPET LOT BABY BIRD ROBINS IN NEST, TURTLE + GUND SEAL $14.95

Nice Plush Folkmanis Dolphin Hand Puppet $9.99

Folkmanis Small Brown Monkey Full Body Hand Puppet – Free shipping! $19.99

Folkmanis Tyrannosaurus Rex Dinosaur Huge 23″ high 23″ Long $39.99

Folkmanis Monkey hand puppet Large size 16″ Full Bodied $26.99

Folkmanis Shark Hand Puppet $19.98

Mini Chipmunk Finger Puppet-Folkmanis $8.99

Folkmanis Donkey Horse Hand Puppet 40cm long teacher’s resource for storytelling $53.23

Mini Scarlet Macaw Finger Puppet-Folkmanis $9.99

Wildlife Animals Folkmanis 10″ Furry Folk Puppet – Raccoon Plush Hand Puppet $1.99

Folkmanis Plush Beaver Hand Puppet $23.98

Folkmanis Baby Emporer Penguin Bird Finger Puppet 10cm $9.81

NWT – Folkmanis 11.5” Pirate Hand Puppet – NEW $12.99

Mini Red Dragon Finger Puppet-Folkmanis $10.75

Folkmanis Scarlet Macaw Bird Finger Puppet 17cm $9.81

Folkmanis Toad Finger Puppet Animal 12cm teacher’s resource $10.35

Folkmanis Eagle Bird Stage Puppet 63cm wing span $31.54

Folkmanis Collie Puppy Dog Animal Puppet 48cm real looking! Teacher’s Resource $51.26

Mini Eagle Finger Puppet-Folkmanis $8.75

Folkmanis Baby Emperor Sea Bird Penguin Hand Puppet 22cm Teacher’s Resource $26.61

Folkmanis Scarlet Macaw 25″ puppet red blue yellow plush head mouth move beak $12.99

Folkmanis Puppet NWT. Sitting Dog. The Best Gift To Give A Child $8.00

12” vintage Furry Folk Puppets by Folkmanis Bear hand puppet plush $6.99

The Genie In The Lamp Hand Puppet $34.99 The Genie In The Lamp Hand Puppet…

Wolf Plush Hand Puppet Whether he’s blowing down houses or dressing like grandma, this big bad Wolf hand puppet provides hours of storytelling fun. With such soft fur and bright blue eyes, he couldn’t be all bad. Or could he? Direct from Folkmanis, this plush wolf puppet is cute, cuddly, and simply irresistible. The Folkmanis wolf puppet is perfect for puppet shows, pretend play, and cuddling. He would also make a great…

Folkmanis Puppet Mini Field Mouse $3.15 Finger Puppet…

Folkmanis Mini Butterfly, Monarch Finger Puppet $2.25 The sheer wings of this finger puppet, silk screened with realistic markings, flutter gracefully up and down with the motion of your hand. Its stretchy nylon fabric body fits fingers of many sizes….

Folkmanis Puppet Mini Hedgehog $2.70 Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals that will roll up into a ball for protection. This little ball of fun has soft plush “spines” so it is ok to cuddle….

FOLKMANIS INC. FMT2800 RABBIT HAND PUPPET $37 Heirloomquality details and a rich mix of sumptuous plush make this 20inch Folkmanis Rabbit Stage Puppet a standout in the puppet world. High quality components. Satisfaction Ensured.

Folkmanis Inc. FMT2877 Baby Chimpanzee Baby Stage Puppet $37 This adorable Folkmanis BABY CHIMPANZEE is a hugable puppet that can be any child s best friend. With a movable mouth and sweet expression he is fun for playtime naptime or taking him on the road as a travel buddy.

Folkmanis Inc. Fmt2553 Puppet Gray Squirrel $45.64 Educators Resource offers products for preK8 learning materials and educational toys used by schools teachers parents and children. In the tradition of Folkmanis awardwinning wildlife puppets comes this gracefully detailed Gray Squirrel Puppet. Featuring rich plush a movable mouth and thread whiskers this inquisitive squirrel comes with his own acorn so he won t need to raid the nut bowl

Folkmanis Inc. FMT2181 Tortoise Puppet $35.27 This silkscreened suedecloth puppet is just one step away from nature. Head and front legs articulate or retract into shell completely. Moveable head arms and legs. Pulls into shell.

Folkmanis Inc. Fmt2204 Puppet Hamster $19.05 Educators Resource offers products for preK8 learning materials and educational toys used by schools teachers parents and children. The answer to that frustrating no pet policy arrives in the form of this Hamster puppet Perfect for smaller hands he has a movable head and front feet to amuse and delight and when playtime is done he sits peacefully no cage required

Folkmanis Inc. FMT2830 Elephant Puppet $37 This Elephant Stage Puppet is one armful of fun with unique fabrics and a fun movable trunk. Movable mouth and front legs. Trunk HAS pullring animation. Moveable mouth and front legs. Curl trunk up with ring inside head. Elastic band around bottom to cover your arm. Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 12 .

Folkmanis Inc. Fmt2092 Puppet Chipmunk $33.54 Educators Resource offers products for preK8 learning materials and educational toys used by schools teachers parents and children. Chubby cheeks a ruddy complexion and racing stripes greet you when this friendly fellow climbs aboard your hand. When you work his arms he can hold a nut or tidy his face up after dinner. Use your opposing hand to flick his tail for expressive gesturing.

Folkmanis Inc. FMT2881 Turtleneck Turtle Stage Puppet $43.91 This TURTLENECK TURTLE is sporting the perfect turtle neck for skiing on the mountains crawling thru the woods or just cozying up to the fire. Wherever your imagination travels this charming turtle puppet with movable mouth and arms will be a great companion

Folkmanis Inc. FMT2851 Eagle Stage Puppet $35.27 A national symbol and an endangered species the bald eagle evokes pride and nostalgia. This striking EAGLE Stage Puppet features featherlike dark brown and white plush fabric and broad flappable wings. His beak is styled in goldcolored vinyl.

Folkmanis Inc. FMT2885 Alpaca Stage Puppet $38.73 The fluffy fleeced Alpaca Stage Puppet has sweet and gentle features offset by wooly supersoft plush and wise eyes that say I don t need a sweater . High quality components. Satisfaction Ensured.

Folkmanis Inc. Fmt2236 Puppet Snowy Owl $43.91 Educators Resource offers products for preK8 learning materials and educational toys used by schools teachers parents and children. This puppet is a real headturner Besides being able to make his head turn 360 degrees you can animate this Snowy Owl s feathersoft wings to create a real flap in your neck of the woods