It always astonishes me how well kids respond to puppets. Little kids actually seem to think the puppet is talking to them, even when the puppet has no mouth, and the sound is clearly coming from you. Big kids also enjoy puppets, especially puppets who have an "attitude," or a funny, squeaky voice. They also enjoy watching the puppets interact with the younger kids.
This is a picture of my favorite little puppet, Thoughtful Pig. My daughter named him and gave him to me many years ago. Thoughtful Pig was very inexpensive, and he has spent quite a lot of time in both nursery and primary over the years.
If you don't have a puppet handy, it's easy to make a very goofy, expressive one with a sock from your drawer, with spare-button eyes safety-pinned on inside. Simple puppets actually work better for me than fully-formed elaborate ones, because it's easier to assign a wacky personality to them. I've used lots of sock puppets over the years. You just slide your hand in the sock, position your knuckles in the heel (which becomes the forehead), and stuff the toe in between your fingers and thumb to form the mouth. If you're feeling fancy, you can pin in a felt tongue, or attach lips. Maybe even some yarn hair. Give the puppet a silly or pretentious name.
Puppets aren't for every week. But they can help in a variety of ways:
A puppet gets the children's attention (both young and old, surprisingly) very quickly.
A puppet can act as a judge of how well the children are singing. The puppet can have (unreasonably) high expectations and keep refusing to be satisfied until the singing is fabulous.
A puppet, very proud of himself, can sing a line of a song you're reviewing to the kids, and sing an obvious word WRONG. The children then try to teach the puppet the right way. He continues to make mistakes, even though he's trying so hard, and the children keep singing to him so he'll learn.
You can have a dialogue with a puppet, telling about an experience, demonstrating a principle, or disagreeing about something (so that the children will solve the problem). This can often introduce a review song. Or the puppet can say "guess what song I'm thinking about?" or sing a few notes for a "name that tune."
Silly puppets aren't appropriate for reverent or devotional songs, but for something snappier like "Scripture Power" they work really well.
Have you ever used puppets in primary music? What was your experience? Do you have puppet ideas to share? Please comment!
Why have I never used a puppet in Primary?? I've seen how effective they can be in classrooms and with counseling kids. You gave me a little inspiration to extend this into my calling. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnother puppet-like tool is to cut a 'mouth' in a tennis ball and color or glue on some eyes. The mouth can get really wide as you squeeze it or very small and it looks really funny. I love puppets too! They are easy to fit in a bag or box to have with you all the time in case you need them. Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteThe tennis-ball puppets sound SO FUN! I can't wait to try one out. Maybe even two -- it would be entertaining to have a dialogue between two of them, one in each hand. Thanks, Carrie!
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