The puppets are based on a simple scarecrow design: two pieces of wood joined together to make a cross, like the frame of a kite. You can use sticks from the garden or park, lengths of garden cane, or even pencils.
Make sure that the shorter piece is used for the arms, then fix them together with lots of sticky tape.
For the head, screw up a ball of newspaper and tape it in place, then cover it with a layer of PVA glue before painting. Another idea is to cut a section from the bottom of an empty egg box to create two eyes and a big, pointy nose. The children can decorate the faces with poster paints, then attach them to the top of the stick frames with tape.
Finally, your puppets need clothes, and this is where children can really use their imaginations. Cut two T-shirt shapes from paper for each puppet, and have the children draw a design on one side of each. If one of the puppets is a schoolboy, they could sketch a school uniform. Or they could colour the clothing dark blue to create a policeman character. Or take the scarecrow idea literally, and add a bit of straw. When the clothes are finished, place one sheet on either side of the puppet, making sure the designs are on the outside, and carefully staple around the edges.
Once your puppets are complete, it's time for the show! The children can crouch down behind a table or sofa, and hold the puppets above their heads to work them. Why not try acting out a favourite bedtime story, or even a Punch & Judy show - with audience participation, of course!
Tommy Donbavand is a children's entertainer and the author of the books Quick Fixes for Bored Kids and More Quick Fixes.... His new guide, Boredom Busters, is also published by How To Books, and they can all be ordered via his entertaining website at www.wobblebottom.com.
