Ventriloquist’s dummy

A ventriloquist's dummy is the ideal foil for a child. Traditionally, a ventriloquist's dummy says and does all the rude, naughty things that the puppeteer cannot. This can be a great developmental tool for identifying unacceptable behaviour.

What you need:

• A balloon
• A toilet roll
• An old child's jumper
• An old pair of child's pants
• A stapler
• Masking tape
• Scrunched up newspaper

Number of players:
1+

Activity:

Blow up the balloon and then draw a face and hair on it.

Stick the balloon to the toilet roll using masking tape.

Slip the jumper neck up the toilet roll and then staple it to the toilet roll neck.

Staple the pants to the jumper at the bottom edge.

Stuff the arms and the legs with scrunched up newspaper.

Your child's hand goes up the back of the jumper and moves the head by holding the toilet roll. The dummy should sit on your child's lap with the legs dangling down.

Notes:

• For some good hints on staging a ventriloquist's show, learn how to be a ventriloquist.
• For a more complex dummy you could make a proper head out of papier-mâché.