DIY paper puppet theater made from paper. Easy to buy, or better yet, download for free and print! Homemade magic: DIY shadow theater DIY children's theater templates

"Fairy tale on the table" or table theater

I. Plane theater.

Characters and scenery - pictures. Characters appear as the action progresses, which creates an element of surprise and arouses the interest of children. We bought ready-made albums, cut out characters and scenery. We made a table screen - a box.

II. Theater from waste material.(from tea boxes, disposable cups...) Develops imagination and the ability to work with various materials.

III. Cone Theater. This type of theater is made of cardboard. It is bright and interesting for children. Easy to manipulate.

IV. Theater made of wooden models.(“The Fox and the Crane”). Very practical. Doesn't beat. Does not wrinkle, easy to store.

V. Theater on clothespins. Good because it develops fine motor skills fingers

VI. Plasticine theater.

VII. Toy theater. . Industrially made toys (plastic, soft, rubber) or homemade (knitted, sewn from scraps) are grouped according to fairy tales. This kind of theater is very close to children, as they play with similar toys every day. It can be played not only at the table, but also while lying on the carpet.

They stand steadily on the table and do not interfere with movement. The child fully controls the movement of the doll and accompanies the character with words. And the opportunity to see the figure’s face allows the beginning artist to better master the techniques of tabletop theater puppeteering: the child does not look at the other side of the doll, he plays “for himself”; This technique helps the artists interact with each other without being distracted by the audience.

Stand theater:

1. Shadow theater. It requires a screen made of translucent paper, black flat figures and a light source behind them. The image can also be obtained using your fingers. The show is accompanied by appropriate sound.

2. Theater of pictures on flannelgraph. You can draw pictures for display yourself (these are plots or characters from fairy tales, stories), or you can cut them out of old books that can no longer be restored. They are glued onto thin cardboard, and with reverse side flannel is also glued on. Although today magnetic theater is more relevant and practical.

Theater on hand.

1. Finger Theater. These are dolls made of fabric, glued from paper or knitted from wool and thread, foam rubber. Figures can be made in the form of cones, cylinders, rings. The pattern follows the contour of the child's elongated finger. The doll should fit freely on any finger of the puppeteer's hand. The character's face can be embroidered, glued or sewn on using buttons, beads, threads, ropes, pieces of wool, colored paper, textile. Older children can make such toys on their own. You can play behind a screen or in direct contact. The presence of this type of puppet theater makes it possible to solve problems in the development of fine motor skills of the hand and coordination of finger movements. At the same time, this work is the foundation for a smooth transition to learning the techniques of puppetry in a puppet theater with mittens.

Horse dolls

1. Theater of spoons and spatulas. The simplest and most accessible for children puppet show spoons It is necessary to take into account the level of development muscle mass hand, forearm, shoulder, etc. Organization of the game involves the use of a floor screen. At the beginning of work with these types of puppet theater, a floor screen with a curtain of 70-80 cm is used, child actors are located on chairs.

2. Theater paper dolls on a stick. Children cut out figures from coloring books and glue popsicle sticks to them.

3. Origami Theater- these are paper folded figures fairy tale characters. For ease of puppeteering, we attached them to sticks.

4. Theater on discs.

5. Gapite dolls or stock dolls. The simplest gapit is simply one or two sticks inserted into the toy. It should not be too thick and heavy, otherwise the child will not be able to take it comfortably in his hand. The gapit should not be too short, but not too long either. They are very useful for the development of fine motor skills, which contributes to the development of speech in children. These dolls also develop flexibility in the fingers, hand and wrist. Working with children younger age I use dolls on one rod. I’m learning to hold a doll with all my fingers (in a fist). The doll moves due to the movements of the hand. Older children control the dolls on two rods. To manipulate such dolls, you need to teach children to hold the sticks only with their fingertips.

Living Puppet Theater

Scarf dolls They are convenient because they allow the puppeteer to move and dance freely.

Shadow theater– exciting and interesting art, which will not leave either adults or children indifferent. By using shadow theater you can act out a variety of fairy tales using different character templates, scenery.

I present to your attention making screens and templates for shadow theater.

For manufacturing you will need the following materials:

Ruler;

Tape measure, pencil;

Sandpaper;

White paint, brush;

Awnings (small);

Screws, screwdriver;

White fabric (dense);

Velcro;

Flashlights 4 pcs.

Loops for wiring.

Black gouache

1. First of all, before you do DIY screen, you need to draw a sheet of chipboard.


2. Difficulties may arise with windows, but this can be easily fixed using a drill, drill holes in the corners of our future window and you can cut out our window with a jigsaw.



3. The ends of the parts are lightly sanded, and then we attach the canopies.


4. All parts are painted in White color, even those places that will be covered with fabric, since it tends to be transparent.


5. Now you can start sewing the screen for screens. It is better to make it removable so that you can take it off and wash it. To do this, I sewed a screen with Velcro around the perimeter.


6. Accordingly, on the reverse side screens We glue Velcro around the perimeter of the window with super glue and nail the hinges (for wiring, we will insert decorations into them, and paint the front side as whatever: But you shouldn’t focus too much on this so as not to distract the attention of the audience.




Our the screen is ready!





9. Then templates were laminated.



10. Cut out and to everyone templates pieces of cocktail tubes were glued with super glue (sticks will be inserted into them to attach them to screen decorations and holding characters).



Our the theater is ready!



Thank you for your attention!

Publications on the topic:

Today I offer you a master class on making a tabletop theater “Under the Mushroom” using waste material. For the manufacture of.

I would like to introduce you to the technology of making puppets for the theater, using in my work plastic bottle. An example would be the main character.

The principle of operation is very simple, for this you will need: - “Moment” glue; - ruler; - pencil (simple); - stationery knife; - scissors;.

Among the various forms of education and upbringing of children in preschool age Theater and theatrical games occupy a special place, because it is a game.

I suggest you make with your own hands a simple tabletop screen accessible to everyone for theatrical performances for children up to school age.

Good afternoon guests and blog readers! Today I again want to touch on the topic of how and how to engage a child at home. This topic is very close to me, because I have two children at home. Which require attention and care.

In the previous article, I told you about didactic games with your favorite characters from PAW Patrol. For those who missed this issue, read here.

Today I want to offer another option for playing at home, this is a puppet theater. Of course, you can take your child to a real puppet theater, or you can create one at home.

Therefore, I will share with you some thoughts and developments to make such a miracle.

We will need: your desire and a little free time :)

To be honest, at home we have different variants theaters, for example this wood.


My kids love it very much, because it is so funny and exciting when I show them a fairy tale and they sit and listen. Now I have an older son, he can show and tell fairy tales himself. Just think, this is very cool, because while playing, a child learns to retell his favorite fairy tale, build a dialogue, etc.


I think that all preschool children, as well as most children of primary school age, will not remain indifferent to such theaters. And if you come up with your own fairy tales with a funny plot and an intriguing ending, then it can actually turn out to be a real holiday for a child.


The simplest version of a do-it-yourself puppet theater is a paper one. It's easy to make it yourself. Well, or together with the child.

DIY paper finger puppet theater, patterns

Children really like this paper finger puppet theater, it attracts them and also develops fine motor skills. Look here.


The first option is flat round finger theater. You need to make the head and upper part of the doll, put it on your finger using a paper ring or you can make cones.


Create these dolls with your child together, starting with character templates. Download them from my website by leaving me a comment below, I will be happy to send you the templates, print them and have fun playing.

After all, finger puppet theater is a whole magical art, in which children learn the world. Any child will enjoy being in the role of an artist, and this helps to believe in themselves and achieve success in the future. Also this good material for the development in children of such processes as imagination, thinking, as well as the development of fine motor skills and much more.

The finger theater can be made from any available materials, such as paper, fabric, cardboard, corks, threads, cups, etc.

DIY tabletop paper theater, templates

I show my children this tabletop paper theater which I did very quickly.


We will need:

  • cups from Rastishka, illustrations, ice cream sticks

Stages of work:

1. Take any illustrations and cut out all the characters in the fairy tale along the outline.

3. Glue popsicle sticks onto each fairy tale character.


4. Now take the cups and make a horizontal hole at the top of each cup with a stationery knife.


5. Well, now insert the stick with the hero into the glass. Look how lovely it turned out. Very easy and simple, no worse than buying it in a store.


Ice cream sticks can be replaced with plastic forks or spoons.

If you don’t want to take illustrations from books, then you can find characters from any fairy tales on the Internet, save them, and then print them out, and then cut them out and glue them onto sticks. You can download these from my website ready-made templates heroes from the following fairy tales: Kolobok, Teremok, Turnip, Zaichya Izbushka, just write a comment or review below, and I will send it to you by email.

Paper puppet theater “Walkers”

This kind of theater is very popular with young children; for such a theater you need your favorite characters and a couple of holes.


Believe me, children will happily play such games.


And if you invite friends over, it will be even more fun to play.


You will also receive samples of walkers of your favorite characters to your e-mail address.

Tabletop paper theater on plastic cups, corks, cubes

This option is also very easy to make; you can even draw the characters yourself or find and cut them out, and then glue them onto corks or cubes. Everything is brilliantly simple.


What do you think of this idea? All children love Kinder Surprise, and all of them have little donations left over from them, which you can pay for in such a theater.


DIY glove puppet

In reality, there are a lot of puppet theaters that can be built. Even at almost no cost. You just need to use your wits and do it! You can sew it, for example.


Or you can learn to knit and knit these cute little characters:


Honestly, I used to knit well, but now I don’t have enough time for it all. But I never liked sewing. But, as an option, you can also create a theater for those who love this business.


Although here is the simplest master for you - a class on sewing a puppet theater from fabric using gloves. Anyone can do it, even those who do not know the art of sewing.

We will need:

  • household gloves, knitted - 2 pcs., buttons for the eyes - 2 pcs., thread, scissors, braid, stationery knife

Stages of work:

1. Take the first glove and steam the seam thread on the cuff, it is usually red or yellow color. Tuck the little finger, thumb and index finger in so that they do not come out, sew them up. You should end up with a head with ears and a hare neck. Sew the bases of the ears to prevent your fingers from getting in there.


2. Now take the next glove and hide your ring finger in it, sew up the hole. Connect middle and index fingers together and now put the hare's head on them.


3. Sew the head to the neck. To hide the seam on your neck, tie it with a bow or tie in the shape of a butterfly. Sew button eyes and embroider a muzzle, or you can draw it with a marker. You can decorate a bunny using fluff or knitted threads by gluing a cute little chupik on his head. 😯


In this way, you can make other toys, such as a dog, parsley, etc.


My son generally loves such a simple glove, he puts it on and goes around making up all sorts of stories with the characters :)


Here is a short article for today. I think any of you have small children, you will be happy to diversify their leisure time. Choose any type of theater and do it with your child. And then enjoy good mood and positive. After all, everything collaborations strengthen your relationship! And the child will only be happy and delighted about this, and will definitely tell you: “Mommy, how I love you!” The most magic words in this world.

Well, I say goodbye to you for today. Until next time.

P.S. Do you know what is very important?! It is in the home puppet theater that you can observe your child and his behavior. Because the baby can come up with something, speak out, and we adults still need to listen to what the child is talking about, what topics he is talking about.

Imagine - evening twilight, a tightly drawn curtain and spectators frozen in anticipation of a miracle. Soon, next to the most ordinary lamp, a magical performance will begin, woven from almost nothing. Shadow theater is a fascinating spectacle that appeals to children of any age, from one-year-old babies to primary schoolchildren, who happily take part in the preparation of the performance and come up with their own fairy tales for the shadow performance.

You don't have to go to a real theater to watch a theatrical performance of light and shadow. All this can be done at home using available materials. Home shadow theater - exciting and useful activity for the whole family. Everyone can participate in the preparation and performance of the performance, imagination is in full swing, the plot is full of surprises, and the level of complexity of the scenery and figures depends on the interest of the kids and the time that everyone is ready to devote to it.

What kind of shadow theater is there?

Finger theater consists of shadows that appear on the screen due to the different positions of the hands and the intertwining of the “director’s” fingers. Most often these are images of well-known animals, but professionals can show human faces or some inanimate objects. This is great for training fine motor skills and coordination.







Puppet theater is a performance using ready-made figures and scenery. The characters are cut out of cardboard, mounted on sticks and moved according to the action. Due to the fact that almost anything can be cut out of cardboard, the shadow puppet theater provides a boundless field for the flight of children's imagination.


What do you need for a home shadow theater?

1. Light source - this can be a simple table lamp, a travel flashlight or any other lamp with directional light.

2. Screen - is a translucent white plane that can be made from different materials- tracing paper, a thin white sheet, ordinary Whatman paper, or sheets of white paper fastened together. The frame for the screen can be a cut-out lid from any box, an artistic stretcher, a two-story children's bed - any structure on which you can stretch the screen. You can make it from a decomposed shoe box and stretch a sheet over a bunk bed. The small “stage” is suitable for simple finger performances, and if you want to prepare a real puppet show– it’s better to make a spacious large screen where the whole story will fit.

3. Setting and Characters – Choose where you want to start. If you decide to try finger theater, practice with your child how to fold your palms and fingers in such a way that “live” images of animals appear on the screen. A dog can bark, a crocodile can open its toothy mouth, a bunny can move its ears - whatever you imagine. For the puppet theater you will need thick cardboard from which you will cut out decorations and figures.


Helpful Tips:

1. The screen should be located between the audience and the lamp. The actors are between the lamp and the screen. Remember that the lamp gets hot and it is best not to touch the light source during the performance.

2. In order for the shadows to be clear, the light should fall directly, not from the side, and the lamp should not be close, but two three meters from the wall.

3. The light source should always be behind the screen and slightly to the side. Position yourself so that the shadow of your body almost does not fall on the screen, and the shadow of your hands is evenly clear.

4. It is better to paint cardboard figures with black paint, then they will be contrasting and noticeable on the screen.

5. The size of the shadows on the screen depends on the distance from the figure to the light source. To make the figure smaller, bring it close to the screen. To make it grow in size, place it further away. It is better to secure the scenery close to the screen with tape or bent paper clips so that they do not move during the performance, and little directors will have extra pair hands

6. If the kids like it home theater, make a real curtain, tickets and programs. During the performance, you can arrange a real intermission with an impromptu buffet.

5. Start with a small number of characters - two or three are enough for the first time. With practice, you can easily move on to more complex performances.

6. To make the performance “colorful,” use colored light bulbs or filters that can be attached to the lamp. For night scenes - a blue filter, for morning scenes - a red one, and so on.

7. The figures can be made movable by wrapping their arms, legs, wings and tails with soft wire. Instead of sticks that hold characters up, use regular drinking straws.

We offer two master classes on making a shadow theater for children at home. You will learn how to make a screen and actors for a theatrical performance with your own hands from light and shadow, get acquainted with the theater of manual shadows, download templates for figurines of fairy tale heroes and find useful tips on working with shadow theater.

Shadow theater helps children get acquainted with theatrical activities, develop speech, show imagination, encourage children to active interaction, communication, etc. Theater productions can be carried out with children of all ages, both in a group and individually.

Lego Shadow Theater

Introducing step-by-step master class with photographs of how to make a shadow theater from Lego Duplo or its analogues.

Necessary materials:
  • designer Lego Duplo (on, on)
  • building plate Lego Duplo green (on, on)
  • A4 sheet of paper
  • phone with a flashlight function or other light source.
How to do

Build a frame theater stage made of red blocks and adjacent turrets made of multi-colored bricks.

Source: lego.com

Place a white sheet of paper between the structures.

Build a stage behind the screen and use the blocks to make a phone stand. Place the light source in front of the paper sheet.

Decorate the theater and prepare the actors for the performance.

Turn on the flashlight on your phone and start the show.

Shadow theater "The Gruffalo" out of the box

Create your own shadow theater based on the popular book “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson (,).

“The Gruffalo” is a fairy tale in verse for adults to read to children. A little mouse walks through a dense forest and, in order to escape from a fox, owl and snake, invents the terrible Gruffalo - an animal who loves to eat foxes, owls and snakes.
But can a resourceful mouse outwit all the hungry predators? After all, he knows very well that there are no Gruffalos... Or do they?

Source: domesticblissnz.blogspot.ru

Necessary materials:
  • printable hero templates (download);
  • A4 paper;
  • black cardboard;
  • wooden skewers;
  • scotch;
  • glue;
  • cardboard box;
  • scissors.
How to do

1. Download and print templates with characters for the shadow theater. Glue onto black cardstock.

2. Cut out the figures and glue a wooden skewer to each.

3. We make a screen (screen) for a shadow theater.

Lay the box flat. On the large rectangular parts of the box, draw a frame, stepping back 1.5-2 cm from the edges. Cut along the marked lines.


4. Assemble the box in its original state, but with the colored side facing inward.


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5. Take a sheet of white A4 paper and cut it to the size of the box. Cut out a rectangle of the same size from black cardboard.

6. Cut out trees from black cardboard and glue them onto a white sheet.

7. Glue the paper to the inside of the box as shown in the photo below.

8. Make a slot at the bottom of the box for the figures.


9. Secure the screen to the edge of the table with tape.

10. Install the lamp at the back at a distance of 2-3 meters from the screen. For clear shadows, the light must fall directly and not from the side. Be sure to warn your child to be careful around the hot lamp.

The shadow theater is ready! Turn off the lights, invite an audience and perform a shadow show.

Hand shadow theater

The hand shadow theater is one of the most simple types shadow art. Its equipment will require the most ordinary items- table lamp and screen - a large sheet of white paper or cloth. If the room has light walls, a theatrical performance of light and shadow can be shown directly on the wall.

The pictures show how you can use your hands to create silhouettes of animals, birds, and people. With practice, you can bring the shadows to life and show your own story.



  • You can start introducing children to shadow theater at the age of 1.5-2 years. The first classes should be held as a theatrical performance, when the roles are played by an adult, and the children act as spectators. After the child understands the rules and traditions theatrical arts, it can be included in the game as a participant in the action. Children play and voice roles, learn texts and poems. At first, trust small, simple roles. Then gradually make it more difficult.
  • Cardboard figures of shadow theater actors should be black, then they will be contrasting and noticeable on the screen. To make your own figures, use curly stencils. If you plan to reuse your homemade figures, we recommend laminating them.
  • To ensure clear shadows, place the light source behind and slightly to the side of the screen. The light source will be a regular table lamp or flashlight.
  • The size of the shadow on the screen depends on the distance from the figure to the lamp. If you bring the figure closer to the screen, its shadow will become small and clear. If you place it further away, the shadow will increase in size and the contours will be blurred.
  • To ensure that the decorations do not move during the performance, attach them to the screen itself using tape or paper clips.
  • What paper, tracing paper or a white sheet are perfect as a screen. The smaller the screen you use, the thinner and more transparent it needs to be, and the brighter the light source you need.
  • In order to create a theatrical atmosphere, you can draw a poster, tickets and even arrange an intermission.

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We recommend the book " Night Tale» Beatrice Coron (