Curtain puppet theatre

Puppet play has enormous benefits for your child's confidence and emotional development. This simple curtain system is the easiest and quickest way to get  your kids started with their own puppet show.

What you need:

• A sewing machine
• Calico or other cheap white fabric (an old sheet will do)
• Stretch wire
• hooks
• Acrylic or fabric paints

Number of players:
2+

Activity:

You will be using a doorway as your puppet theatre, so measure the width of the doorway and double it. This will be the width of fabric you need.

For the height, get your kids to kneel in the doorway, measure to just above their heads so they'll be hidden by the curtain. Allow for a hem at the bottom and a hem at the top (to slip the wire through.)

Hem the fabric top and bottom. Slip the wire through the top hem, scrunch it to the width of the doorway. Attach a hook either side of the door frame and rig up your curtain.

If your kids want to get really elaborate and decorate the curtain themselves with fabric paint, take the curtain down first and do this outside.

When the puppet theatre isn't in use, you can roll it up and put it in the linen cupboard. But be warned, once it's up, they may never let you take it down!