Materials
Petroleum jelly, optional
Rigid or casting wrap, cut into 4" (10 cm) strips
Bowl of water
Paint
Googly eyes
Glue
Yarn or doll hair, optional
Clay, optional
Instructions
What to do
1. Choose your first "patient"
and apply a small amount
of petroleum jelly to the
child's finger, if desired. Dip
the strips of wrap into the
bowl of water and wrap
them loosely around the
child's finger, forming a
cast.
2. Carefully remove the cast
before it hardens.
3. When their casts harden
and dry, invite the children
to paint faces on them.
Help the children attach
eyes and hair, if desired.
4. Attach some clay to the
base of the casts if you
want the puppets to stand
on their own.
More to do
Circle time: Invite the children to discuss safety and how to avoid accidents.
Dramatic play: Use the puppets to act out a scene in a doctor's office or hospital.
