Puppets are loved by kids all over the world. Much before the modern toy industry found its feet, puppets were delighting children across ages. If you think puppets are more suitable for younger kids between 3-8 years, you are yet to experience the fascinating charms of a puppet.

From child care workers to child psychologists, anyone who has worked with children would tell you about the huge benefits of introducing puppets to your child. Puppets not only spur your child’s creativity, they go a long way in developing their motor skills. Encouraging kids to put together a puppet show helps them to learn to face an audience with confidence while bolstering their power of expression.

Where can you buy a puppet?
You can easily find some very interesting puppets at craft fairs or on mail order catalog. Nowadays, most toy stores showcase a variety of theme-based puppets. Also, almost all online stores sell new, as well as, used puppets at affordable prices. You can refer to customer reviews to get answers for any of your queries regarding the product.

What are the things to consider when buying a puppet?
Size: When you are selecting a puppet that your child can handle himself or herself, consider smaller sizes that fit his or her hands and are easy to manoeuvre.

If you are planning to entertain you child with a puppet story, you should look for larger sizes. Ensure that the puppet fits snugly on your hands and allows you to move your hand freely without sliding off. Larger sizes have the added advantage of being visible from a distance, making them ideal for stage shows or group storytelling sessions.
Character: Select a happy and lovable character. You can introduce puppets of characters from the books you have been reading to your child. Children find it easier to relate to these characters and can be easily inspired to role-plays.
Features: Large expressive eyes, a conspicuous nose or an adorable mouth are some of the things that attract young children. It would be better to select a puppet without a mouth for very young children as they may find it difficult to work the mouth along with the dialogue. Even for an older kid, ensure that hands or mouths or any other movable parts can be worked around comfortably.

Puppet activities for kids
You can plan several puppet-based activities for your kids.
Creative story telling: Use puppets to jazz up the story-telling hour. Puppets can be used effectively to develop an interest in reading.
Building imagination: Encourage your child to weave stories with his puppet friends.
Working on communication: Puppets can be a fun way to teach your child to express feelings. You can motivate them to speak about their feelings to their puppet friends. Another way would be to introduce a puppet as a guiding angel with whom the child can discuss any issues. A know-all guiding angel is all that children need to make them feel secure.