Peg puppets
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 |
|---|---|
| Karetao | Robot |
| Kiripuaki | Character |
| Mātiti | Peg |
| Kanohi | Face |
| Whatu | Eyes |
| Taringa | Ear |
| Ihu | Nose |
| Waha | Mouth |
| Ngutu | Lip |
| Makawe | Hair |
| Kākahu | Clothes |
| Menemene | 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 |
