Perform a ventriloquism act in front of an audience!
Learn simple ventriloquism techniques, create a puppet or soft toy, practice speaking without moving your lips, then perform a short act for family.
About this activity
Learn simple ventriloquism techniques, create a puppet or soft toy, practice speaking without moving your lips, then perform a short act for family.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather all Materials Needed.
- 2
Step 2
Sit at a table in front of the mirror.
- 3
Step 3
Choose whether to use a soft toy or a clean sock for your puppet.
- 4
Step 4
Draw the puppet's face using colouring materials.
- 5
Step 5
Attach eyes and a mouth using glue or needle and thread.
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Step 6
Add yarn hair or a small fabric outfit to your puppet.
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Step 7
Put your hand inside the puppet to feel how the mouth moves.
- 8
Step 8
Practice opening and closing the puppet's mouth while watching the mirror.
- 9
Step 9
Hum gently to warm up your throat.
- 10
Step 10
Say a simple word using sound from your throat while keeping your lips still.
- 11
Step 11
Practice substituting lip sounds by saying D for B T for P and N for M on a list of words.
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Step 12
Write one short funny line for your puppet to say in your notebook.
- 13
Step 13
Rehearse a 1 to 2 minute act by alternating between your voice and the puppet's voice.
- 14
Step 14
Perform your ventriloquism act for your family using puppet movements and expressions.
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Step 15
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I teach my child to perform a ventriloquism act?
Start by teaching simple ventriloquism techniques: practice keeping the lips relaxed while using throat and tongue to shape sounds, and learn easy substitutions for lip-heavy consonants. Help your child create a short, funny script and rehearse lines in front of a mirror. Build a puppet character and practice timing, breathing and facial expressions. Do a small family show first, then add pauses, jokes, and audience interaction as confidence grows.
What materials do I need to perform a ventriloquism act?
Gather a puppet or soft toy (sock puppet, stuffed animal, or handmade fabric puppet), basic sewing supplies or fabric glue, stuffing, felt, buttons for features, markers, and a small mirror for practice. Add a notebook for a short script and simple props like a tiny stool or hat. Optional: smartphone or tablet to record practice, child-safe scissors, and adult supervision for any sewing or small parts.
What ages is this ventriloquism activity suitable for?
This activity suits a wide range: preschoolers (4–6) can enjoy simple puppetry and character play, ages 6–9 can begin basic lip control and scripted bits, and 10+ children and teens can refine technique and stage presence. Adult supervision is recommended for sewing or glue and for helping with tricky consonant substitution. Adapt the script and practice time to the child’s attention span and maturity.
What are the benefits of learning ventriloquism for children?
Ventriloquism builds confidence, public speaking skills, creativity and storytelling. It strengthens fine motor skills when making a puppet, improves voice control and breath management, and encourages social interaction through performance and role play. For shy children, puppets provide a comfortable way to express opinions and jokes. Practicing and performing also teaches preparation, listening to an audience, and managing stage nerves in a fun, supportive way.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use instead of a soft toy or glue if I can't find them?
If you don't have a soft toy or clean sock, use a paper bag or small pillowcase as the puppet body and substitute glue with double-sided tape, fabric glue, or sewing with a needle and thread, and use buttons or felt for the eyes.
My puppet's mouth won't open and close smoothly when I put my hand inside—what should I try?
If the mouth doesn't move well while you 'Put your hand inside the puppet to feel how the mouth moves' and 'Practice opening and closing' in front of the mirror, sew a small seam to tighten the mouth opening or glue a cardboard jaw inside to act as a hinge so it closes reliably.
How can I change the activity for different ages?
For younger children, use a pre-made soft toy, let an adult attach yarn hair and glue on eyes and limit rehearsals to one short line, while older kids can draw detailed faces, hand-sew a fabric outfit, practice the D-for-B/T-for-P word substitutions, and rehearse a full 1–2 minute act.
What are simple ways to make the act more special or longer?
To enhance the activity, personalize the puppet by drawing a unique face and adding yarn hair and a fabric outfit, create a small cardboard backdrop, add sound effects during your 1–2 minute act, and then share the finished performance on DIY.org.