These free Popsicle Stick printables are a fun and interactive way for kids to use their imagination during play by using puppets. Download our free templates below for many of your favorite fairy tales!
Popsicle stick puppets are a simple craft to make that can be used as a prop or as an imaginative play piece for kids.
There are many different ways to use popsicle stick puppets. They can become props in hands-on learning activities, storytelling, imaginative games, and so much more!
The Benefits of Imaginative Play with Puppets
Children learn by imitating adults and the world around them.
Puppets give children a chance to engage in pretend play through role play and imitation.
The value of this type of play is immeasurable.
It enhances their social skills, teaches them how to solve problems, prompts decision making skills, creativity to develop solutions and strengthens memory capacity.
Just like with finger puppets, this process actually helps develop emotional expression and develops language and storytelling skills.
Popsicle Stick Puppets as a Teaching Tool
Fun popsicle stick puppets can also be used as a teaching tool to enhance early literacy development.
They supplement activities such as story telling, reading comprehension and language arts.
The use of puppets can make abstract topics easier for children to understand by giving them hands-on learning opportunities.
Using Popsicle Stick Puppets in Storytelling
Storytelling is an art form that involves oral presentation of folklore and fairytales.
Using popsicle stick puppets in a puppet theater inspire creativity and encourage children to show expressiveness and emotion through body movement and a wide variety of sound effects.
An additional benefit is that a simple puppet on a craft stick or even a finger puppet allows children to practice taking on different roles which can help instill empathy in their hearts.
For example, when using a puppet on a stick to act out the story of “The Gingerbread Man”, children not only become the hungry fox, but they also become the scared little gingerbread man running away from him.
Free Popsicle Stick Printables – Fairy Tale Puppets
There are many different ways stick puppets can be incorporated into learning activities, role play and pretend play games.
Check out some of the fairy tale puppets printable crafts I’ve created for you and your children to enjoy below. They are so easy to use and you don’t need a ton of craft supplies. Just download, print on card stock white paper, cut and attach to a jumbo craft stick with craft glue or a hot glue gun and you are ready to play.
I don’t suggest using regular printer paper because it isn’t stiff enough and won’t hold up well. If it’s all you have but also happen to have a laminator, that would work!
The Gingerbread Man
The Gingerbread Man is a classic story we all know well. He starts out as a gingerbread cookie baked by an old woman. He gets chased by various characters like the old woman, a pig, a cow and a horse.
Every character tries to eat him but fails as he runs away saying “Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”
And then he comes across a very sly fox who outsmarts the Gingerbread Man. Can you help the gingerbread man escape from the hungry fox?
Our Gingerbread Man Popsicle Stick Puppet Downloads are available here.
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood is a story that has been told for generations. It tells the tale of a young girl, her grandmother and their encounter with a wolf.
Like many other fairytales, Little Red Riding Hood has a moral a two – like never talk to strangers (even ones that seem nice) and listen to your parents.
The story starts when little red riding hood is walking through the woods to visit her sick grandmother.
She encounters an old wolf along the way who tries to devour her but she escapes by asking him if he would like something to eat in exchange for not eating her.
He accepts and they go on their separate ways. Little Red then goes on to visit her grandmother but is met with a surprise when she arrives!
Use our stick puppet printable to have children act out the roles of characters like Little Red Riding Hood, her grandmother and the wolf.
Download our free Little Red Riding Hood Popsicle Puppets Printable here.
Three Little Pigs
What will happen when the big bad wolf huffs and puffs? Learn with this stick puppet storytelling activity!
Children can reenact the original tale from memory or why not have them create a new story about what happens afterwards?
(Coming soon!)
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Can you help the three little grass eaters cross the bridge and get to the greener pastures?
This stick puppet storytelling activity is a fun way to introduce children to this classic fairy tale.
(Coming soon!)
Goldilocks & The Three Bears
Who hasn’t heard about Goldilocks and her antics with Papa Bear’s chair, Mama Bear’s bowl and Baby Bear’s bed?
This stick puppet craft will inspire children to act out their own version of this classic fairy tale.
(Coming soon!)
Hansel and Gretel
The story of Hansel and Gretel is about two children who get lost in a forest. They eventually stumble upon a house made of candy and sweets.
They get lured in and trapped by a hungry with who wants to fatten them up to eat them!
Kids will love making these fun characters come alive with their own hands. These adorable puppets include everything you need for Hansel, Gretel, and even a hungry witch.
Jack and the Beanstalk
The classic Jack and the Beanstalk story is one of my favorites. The tale of a little boy with big dreams, Jack trades his family’s cow for some magical beans that will surely make him rich.
However, it turns out to be more than he bargained for when the magic beanstalk grows overnight! Help Jack escape from the giant in this stick puppet storytelling activity.
Some questions you can ask your children:
What would it be like living in a world where giants existed? How would we know they weren’t friendly or dangerous? Would you have traded your cow for some beans, not knowing if they were magic or not?
(coming soon)
Tale as Old as Time
Why not download our free popsicle stick puppet printables and sing about Belle and the Beast with your child?
These stick puppets will help bring your rendition of “Beauty and The Beast” to life!
(coming soon)
Arabian Nights
Download our Aladdin inspired stick puppet craft now to make pretending even more fun when retelling this classic tale that teaches dishonesty does more harm than good in the long run.
Help children to understand that it is important to stay true to oneself and that who we are is worth more than money and material things.
(coming soon)
Wizard of Oz
Children will have a blast reenacting their own rendition of the Wizard of Oz with Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and the cowardly Lion as they make their way down the “yellow brick” road together.
(coming soon)
