by Annie M Manzi

Created on: September 23, 2008   Last Updated: March 31, 2009

Kids are usually scared of monsters, but I guarantee they will love making and playing with these fun paper bag monster puppets. The wonderful part is that they can make the monster as scary or silly as they want to. A monster puppet cannot be too grotesque or funny looking so this is a perfect craft for kids. Children usually don't have a sense of proportion yet and monsters as we know them don't have proportion either. Even the youngest child can make a monster puppet with a bit of help.

As colder weather or rainy days keep children more confined indoors, a theme for the morning or day could be all about monsters. Rent the movie, Monsters, Inc. by Disney and get together the supplies needed to make the puppets. Encourage the kids to think about making their monster puppets. Then sit down with them and watch part of the movie. Take a break and make the puppets. When they are finished, go back to watching the movie. They will be able to use their puppets and act along with the characters during the rest of the movie if they want. Maybe they will come up with their own story line and forget about the movie. This project is a great way to stimulate their imaginations and creativity.

To make a monster puppet you will need the following items:

* Brown paper lunch bags

* Child scissors

* Glue stick or children's non toxic glue

* Construction paper

* Magazines to cut from

* Buttons

* Recycled lightweight plastic items

* Yarn

* Strips of the paper you are recycling

* Crayons or children's water paints

Take the lunch bag and decorate it. The folded bottom piece is the head and nose, and under it is the mouth. The kids can draw or glue on the eye(s) and nose on the top of the flap and the moth parts under it. On the back hair can be glued or drawn on. They can cut out features from magazines or use buttons or other materials laying about that resemble the facial features. The features can be as odd as they want them to be. Hair can be waving lines drawn on or yarn or strips of paper glued to the "head". They can be used for making a beard too.

Let the kids decorate the monster puppets as elaborate or as simple as they want. It is their creation. Supervise and help cut and glue as well as give unbiased encouragement. Guide them to find objects around the house that will enhance the outrageousness of their monsters. If they want to later, they can put on a monster show for the family. Set up some curtains or pretty sheets around a frame of a door and tack a curtain across the front for a theater.

Such a simple craft can be a great time of creation for the kids. Let their imaginations loose and share in the wonder of their world.

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