My youngest, who is five-years-old, has recently started showing an interest in theater. Always ready to perform, she comes by it honestly – her aunt is a natural performer who has been involved in theater her whole life. It appears Claire will follow in her footsteps (she loves watching Aunt DeeDee in plays!).
Claire has also been watching Julie’s Greenroom on Netflix lately. She stumbled up on the show on her own (taking a break from Mia & Me and Mako Mermaids, for once). I sat down with her to watch for a few minutes the other day, and it was *so* cute. Of course, the Julie in Julie’s Greenroom is none other than THE Julie. Julie Andrews, y’all. With fun guests (Chris Colfer was a guest star on the episode I watched) and a diverse group of puppets, the show was perfect for my budding theater kid.
It also gave me an idea. Claire is so creative, and loves to make things. And Netflix sent me a super cute sock puppet kit (you might have seen it on my Instagram stories). Wouldn’t it be fun to put on a puppet show?
We haven’t done it yet, but I’ve collected these fun ideas that we’ll be tapping into to make the Best Puppet Show Ever. Here are my favorites.
I’m a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam, which means I’m a Netflix ambassador and get to share all of my binge watching experiences and television obsessions with you, so you can binge watch, too. This week I’m sharing how to throw the Best Puppet Show Ever, insired by Netflix original, Julie’s Greenroom.
First, you need a story!
This is (in my writer’s opinion) the best part! Let kids create a story. They can recreate their favorite shows, or find inspiration in their favorite activities or exciting events. Let your child choose the storyline and develop the characters, and encourage them to write down some notes (a detailed child might want to create an entire script, while others might want to wing it – I think either way is okay!).
Then, you need characters.
When I was a kid, I remember putting on a puppet show. We drew out the characters on paper, cut them out, and affixed popsicle sticks to theit backs. That was it, and that was all I needed! But you can get much more detailed than that if you’d like!
I LOVE these 10 minute DIY sock puppets. These animal shadow puppets are also fantastic. I also love this princess marionette. These paper bag puppets are also sure to be a hit – and they come with lots of printables to make all kinds of characters.
Encourage your kids to make as many different types of puppets as they want.
And finally, you need a stage!
Remember the puppet show I put on as a kid? The “stage” consisted of two chairs with a blanket stretched between them. We sat behind the blanket, and the audience sat on the other side. It worked great, but there are cuter stages to be made if you’re so inclined.
I love this fun DIY theater. Here’s another beautiful stage – this one is a bit more work, but how pretty! This cardboard stage kit is also fantastic, and comes with a printable stage kit. And finally, I also love this handmade puppet theater.
But most importantly, you need imagination.
Let kids take the reins on this one – I bet you’ll be surprised at the amazing creations they come up with.
If you’re stuck and need some inspiration, turn on Julie’s Greenroom for some ideas. Your little actor or director is sure to find inspiration there!
Be sure to join us on Facebook for more family-friendly ideas, free printables and 21 Day Fix recipes.
Here are some more fun activities for kids. Click on the pictures to go to the posts.
