PUPPET PARTY
Marionette

INVITATION IDEA
You will need small lunch sacks for this invitation.
Lay the sack flat and turn it so that the flap is at the top
Draw a face on the bottom flap of each sack.
Then on the sack, below the face, write: “You’re invited to a puppet party for ____.”
On the other side of the sack, write the party details.
 
FAVOR IDEA
You will want to give the children small finger puppets. These can be purchased commercially, or you can make your own.
Cut off the tips of gloves for small finger puppets.
Or roll felt or paper strips into small cylinders to make finger puppets.
Add faces with thin marking pens.
  
DECORATION IDEAS
One ideas is to hang marionettes from the ceiling.
Another ideas would be to set up a small puppet stage.
Hang a piece of material, or a blanket between two large pieces of furniture or in a doorway.
Hang the stage low so the children could kneel or sit behind it rather than stand.
 
FOOD IDEAS
Make a large sugar cookie for each child, approx. 6” – 8” in diameter or order them special from a bakery.
Set each child down at a table with a paper plate and a giant cookie and a small table knife.
Have frosting and small candies available for the children to decorate their cookie face.
A cake is usually not necessary with these giant cookies to eat.
 
CHILD INVOLVEMENT IDEAS

Paper Sack Puppets - You will need small lunch sacks and felt and yarn scraps for these puppets. Give each child a paper sack and some glue. Set out the yarn scraps, some scissors and some yarn pieces. Have children turn the bag up-side-down and glue a face onto the bottom flap on the sack. Show the children how to stick their hand into the sack and make the puppets head move by opening and closing their hand.

Stick Puppets – You will need material scraps and some large craft sticks for these simple puppets. Set out some thin marking pens and some large craft sticks. Have the children choose a stick and draw a face on one end of their stick. Then have them glue on material pieces for simple clothing.
Puppet Show – If your children are cooperative, let them each perform with their puppet behind a puppet stage. If this is uncomfortable for the children, just have them hold up their puppet while they sit in a circle and sing some familiar songs.
 
PUPPET PARTY GAMES

 
SNAP, SNAP
Here is a game to play using paper sack puppets.
Have children place their puppets on their hands.
Toss out some marshmallows or other treats to each child and have them try to catch them under the puppet’s flap.
 
 
PUPPET STAGE TOSS
Let your children stand on either side of a puppet stage.
Give them some bean bags to toss back and forth, through the opening in the puppet stage, or over the top.

 
PUPPET PARTY ENTERTAINMENT
 
PUPPET PLAY
Invite one or two older children to come to your home and put on a puppet play for your children.