Upcycled DIY Finger Puppets that are inexpensive and easy for kids to make themselves

Raising Creative Kids | Upcycled Finger Puppets

When children are encouraged to think creatively with recyclables, they think mathematically and scientifically, as well. Kids use the scientific method as they explore the materials to find new uses for them. They employ fine and gross motor planning, problem solving, and communication skills when they explain their creations to others.

Observe these skills in your children as they explore making upcycled finger puppets from old knit gloves.

Upcycled DIY Finger Puppets that are inexpensive and easy for kids to make themselves

 

For this simple prompt, raid your coat closet, secondhand store, or the back of your van. Grab some inexpensive knit gloves in varying colors and sizes, and cut the fingers off. Set those out with other recyclables and craft supplies:

Depending on your comfort level and your child’s skills, you can let them use a hot glue gun (or use it for them), tacky glue, or simple school glue.

Upcycled DIY Finger Puppets that are inexpensive and easy for kids to make themselves

 

I like to set activities like this out, and let my kids dive in with their imaginations without telling them what I was thinking when I pulled together the activity. It makes for some interesting results.

With this activity, I wasn’t disappointed.

The kids spread piles of felt and pipe cleaners on the floor, and dug through them to find the exact shades of whatever colors they were looking for. They chatted about the characters they were creating, the stories that would be theirs, and the adventures their puppets would embark on.

Upcycled DIY Finger Puppets that are inexpensive and easy for kids to make themselves

 

It was lovely.

And creative.

Inspiring, really.

When the creating was done, we had mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, friendly monsters and pets. They were completely engrossed in spinning tales and planning shows, so I told them to go off and create together. I’d clean up.

The giggles (and sounds of collaboration) coming from the next room made the mess worth it, and the show was fun.

But, the thinking skills used in this simple prompt were my favorite thing ever. The kids exercised flexibility in thinking when they saw characters in the gloves’ fingers. They thought creatively as they looked over the materials that were available to them and took them in a new direction.

Upcycled DIY Finger Puppets that are inexpensive and easy for kids to make themselves

 

They talked to one another, worked together, and came up with a story that had a clear beginning, middle, and end – and lots of fun details.

Setting up creativity prompts is a simple and exciting – and can break up the day in an innovative way. Stick around this week as I’ll be sharing more fun creativity prompts with you as part of the iHomeschool Network’s Annual 5-Day Hopscotch.

If you’re dying to try some fun and innovative prompts with your own kids, download an e-copy of my book, Raising Creative Kids: A Collection of Simple Creativity Prompts for Children for only $5.99 today. You’ll have over 70 pages of activities to try out this afternoon.

Do you have a great creativity prompt idea? Let me know all about it in the comments. I love hearing from you.

Raising Creative Kids

Upcycled DIY Finger Puppets that are inexpensive and easy for kids to make themselves