Can You Tell a Story Through a Puppet?

A marionette is a type of puppet that is controlled by the use of strings. Other types of puppetry are finger, glove, rod and shadow puppetry. For more info on marionettes go to Wikipedia.

My three year old has had great experiences with puppets and marionettes. He has experienced marionettes at the Pittsburgh Children's Museum and hand puppets at Longwood Gardens. Both times he loved the experience and his belly laugh was priceless. Even at home we have puppets and I always get the belly laugh from him when I have a doggy puppet on my hand who is trying to bite him. It is always fun making up stories together and using goofy voices for the puppets. Lately, I have been using a frog puppet who lurks in the lake and jumps out and swallows my sons Thomas trains. He doesn't like anyone messing with his trains and lets the frog and my hand know it - it really is so funny - I can't help but laugh as he yells "bad frog". He gets his trains back and the frog disappears for another day.

It is easy to play with kids with puppets, to get them to interact with you, to get them to share thoughts and feelings they might not have otherwise. Puppets have been used at hospitals to help kids who are having trouble coping with their diagnosis and treatments.

With marionettes and puppets, you can tell a story to your child - they are multi-sensory. You can reach and teach your child with important messages, fun stories and let your and their imaginations run free!