Create a Finger Puppet Show
Make colorful finger puppets from paper, felt, or socks, design simple characters and script, then build a tiny stage and perform a short puppet show.
Step-by-step guide to Create a Finger Puppet Show
Step 1
Gather all the materials listed and put them where you can reach them.
Step 2
Pick three characters you want in your puppet show.
Step 3
Give each character a simple name.
Step 4
Choose whether you will make paper puppets felt puppets or sock puppets.
Step 5
For paper or felt puppets place your finger on the material and draw a small puppet body around it.
Step 6
Cut out the paper or felt puppet shapes carefully with scissors.
Step 7
Decorate each paper or felt puppet using colouring materials.
Step 8
Glue on small craft items like googly eyes yarn or buttons to add faces and details to paper or felt puppets.
Step 9
For sock puppets slip a small sock onto your finger to check where the face will sit.
Step 10
Decorate the sock puppet by drawing or gluing on eyes a mouth and yarn hair.
Step 11
Make a tiny stage by cutting a front window from the cardboard or shoebox.
Step 12
Decorate the stage with coloured paper stickers or colouring materials to create a backdrop.
Step 13
Write a very short script of three to four lines for each character.
Step 14
Practice the puppet movements and lines and then perform your puppet show for family or friends.
Step 15
Share a photo or video of your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of googly eyes, felt, yarn, or a shoebox if I can't find them?
Use drawn or paper-circle eyes instead of googly eyes, paper or foam instead of felt, string or pipe cleaners for yarn hair, and a flattened cereal box or cardboard panel in place of a shoebox for the stage.
My paper puppets tear when I cut them or the glue won't hold—what should I do?
Trace your finger and cut slowly leaving a small margin around the puppet body, and if glue won't hold use stronger craft glue or glue dots and press the glued areas firmly while they dry.
How can I adapt this puppet show for different ages?
For toddlers use pre-cut large paper shapes, big stickers, and one-line scripts, for ages 5–8 let them cut and decorate felt or paper puppets and write the three-to-four-line scripts from the instructions, and for older kids add sock puppets with sewn details, longer scripts, and more complex stage decoration.
How can we make the puppet show more impressive or personal?
Enhance the cardboard or shoebox stage by making multiple backdrops, add sound effects or background music to match your three-to-four-line scripts, dress characters with fabric scraps, and record the performance to share on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to Create a Finger Puppet Show
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Facts about puppetry for kids
⏱️ Short puppet shows (around 5–15 minutes) are ideal for keeping kids' attention and packing in laughs!
🧦 A single sock can turn into a goofy character — sock puppets are a classic, low-effort way to make a performer!
🧵 Felt doesn't fray when you cut it, which makes it perfect for bright, quick puppet costumes and faces!
👆 Playing with finger puppets helps kids build fine motor skills, creativity, and storytelling confidence!
🎭 Puppetry is over 3,000 years old — ancient cultures used puppets to tell stories and teach lessons!
How do you put on a finger puppet show step by step?
What materials do I need to make finger puppets and a tiny stage?
What ages is a finger puppet show suitable for?
What are the benefits of making and performing a finger puppet show?
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