Puppets support creativity, language development, communication skills (like turn-taking) and fine-motor coordination. Family can role-play experiences with tamariki, exploring feelings like compassion, empathy, frustration and care.

Why do it?

Peg puppets provide an opportunity for:

  • being creative
  • using language
  • pretend play
  • using imagination
  • working and playing with others.

How to do it

You need:

  • wooden clothes pegs (if no wooden pegs are available try ice block sticks or bits of driftwood)
  • felt tip pens
  • PVA glue
  • scraps of fabric and wool.

Steps

  • Draw a face on each peg — talk about who each puppet can be. Use fabric and wool to add hair and clothes, using glue.
  • Use the puppets to act out family activities (such as shopping, visiting, and going to the park) and/or stories you have shared.

Using more te reo Māori

Te reo Māori English
Robot
Character
Peg
Face
Eyes
Ear
Nose
Mouth
Lip
Hair
Clothes
Smile
Ko wai tēnei? Who's this?
Ko Mere tēnei This is Mere
Ko wai te ingoa o tō keretao? What's your puppet's name?
Kei hea tana kāinga? Where does she live?
Kei te haere ia ki whea? Where is she going?
Kei te haere ia ki te papa rererangi He's going to the airport