Long ago I made a puppet theater out of a large narrow box we had. With a hole cut out of the center, it made a perfect stage for puppet shows.
The problem was, we had a limited number of puppets. The solution, of course, was the classic kids craft: we made sock puppets.
When I was going through their clothes on day, taking out things the kids had outgrown, I came across several pairs of socks that had lost their matches.
Without their mates they aren’t worth passing on to someone else, but they ARE the perfect size for preschoolers to make their own sock puppets.
Your child will also enjoy making these simple shape stick puppets.
Sock Puppets
Suggested Materials:
- Outgrown Socks or Socks without Mates
- Wiggly Eyes
- Felt or Scraps of Fabric
- Yarn
- Pom-Poms
- Permanent Markers
- Hot Glue
Show your child how to put the sock on their hand while decorating it so they know exactly where they want to put eyes, etc.
Younger ones can tell you where to add the materials.
Using permanent markers is also a simple solution for toddlers to create their own puppet.
Once your child is done decorating with markers, help them hot glue on ears, tails, and other items.
To keep them from burning themselves, and to keep the glue from sticking the socks together, you can stretch their puppets over small spice containers before gluing. 
You will have to pry the puppet off gently once the glue is dry, but it beats having a little one get burned!
When you are finished crafting, your child will have the perfect collection of sock puppets to use for hours of pretend play. 
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Post updated 10/23/2018
Rach says
Using the spice containers is a great idea! And I love the whole puppet idea in the first place. Very cute.
OneMommy says
When I made the original puppets I didn’t use the spice containers — burned my hands up! I definitely didn’t want that for them…
Can’t wait to check out your taco soup recipe — we just made chicken tortilla soup last night. Yum!
Nichole says
I would love directions on how to make the puppy theater out of a box.
OneMommy says
I will email you what I did! 🙂 So fun to let the little ones paint it afterwards!
Sara says
Thanks so much for the great inspiration! I’m in the middle of some intense Spring cleaning for Passover and will most certainly have a pile of stray socks to craft with any day now!
OneMommy says
Have fun crafting!
I just went through all the summer clothes from last year; wonder what I can craft with a few old shirts….