Educate and Entertain Your Kids with Puppets and Marionettes

Puppets have a long and colorful history dating back thousands of years. No one knows who made the first puppet, but people have been enjoying them ever since. Puppets come in many different kinds, from the familiar sock-type to fully articulated marionettes. Bali is known for its many different kinds of jointed shadow puppets, which are used to put on plays, and in Japan, bunraku puppets 3-4 feet tall are operated by three puppeteers apiece. There are strong traditions of puppetry throughout Asia. In Europe, puppets developed from Italian theatrical shows, and grew in the 18th century. Most historical puppets were full-body marionettes. Puppets can be as simple or as complex as you want, but one thing remains the same. Puppets are enjoyable for people of all ages. They allow inanimate objects to come to life and become engaging characters through the magical art of the puppeteer.

Children are especially fascinated by puppetry, and puppet shows are a common way to put on educational displays. Using puppets makes an informational message more interesting. The bright colors and enticing or amusing appearance of most children's puppets means it's easier to keep an audience's attention. Puppets are a great way for youngsters to learn. Very young children are especially likely to be receptive to puppetry because it helps them learn visually as well as through traditional methods. Puppets can help give a lesson life and make it more easily understandable. A child watching a puppet play will hardly be aware of the learning experience. Children may feel more inclined to confide in a puppet than in an adult, even if the adult is the one operating the puppet. While puppets are engrossing characters, children do not find them as intimidating as real people.

If you want to acquire puppets for children, there are many kinds that you can shop for, but one of the most popular is puppets that look like animals. Animal forms tend to appeal to young children, sometimes more than human forms. They can be easier for little ones to tell apart because of the wide variance in their shapes. Animal puppets can be very realistic, looking a lot like the animals they're based on, or they can be more abstract and cartoon-like. Both kinds of animal puppets are well-received by kids. The most common construction for these toys is the plush puppet, made out of soft, touchable material. Felt is also sometimes used. Some are simply sock style puppets, but others are hand puppets with a place for the user's hand. They can usually move their limps and head, but don't have much fine movement. For a more realistically looking full body puppet, you could try stuffed animal puppet such a spider, bear or dragon. Marionettes puppets even have fully movable arms and legs. Marionettes take more skill to operate, but learning to use a marionette is a very rewarding experience for young and old alike. Bring the ancient art of puppetry to life for your children, and let their imaginations grow.

Marina Neiman, author and mother of two, writes for 1888Toys.com – Educational Toys Store, featuring classic toys, hand puppets and selection of marionettes puppets.