You will love collaborating with your kids to make a cardboard box puppet theater for at-home play time. This DIY theater only takes 5 steps and uses materials you already have at home.
Puppet play is an excellent creative outlet for kids. It helps them develop literacy skills through storytelling, it boosts motor skills through puppet manipulation, gives them a chance to stretch their imagination muscles and more.
This diy cardboard puppet theater is just the inspiration your kids need to come up with their own entertaining puppet shows!
How to Make a Tabletop Puppet Theater
This puppet theater uses a small or medium sized cardboard box. Living in an apartment, we have limited space for things like puppet theaters made from giant cardboard boxes. But even if you have a larger home you may not want a theater taking up a lot of floor space. Or you may want something easily moved from room to room.
Materials
- small to medium cardboard box
- string
- scissors or craft knife
- decorative paper napkin
- paint and brushes
- fun do-dads like sequins, stickers, crafty bobbles, glitter glue
- duct tape
Instructions
1. Remove the box flaps so the box is completely open on one side. This provides access to the stage.
2. Cut a large opening on the opposite side of the box. This will be where the puppets play.
3. Cut out a lovely rooftop architectural detail from one of the box flaps. (Optional) Use duct tape to affix the roof detail to the front of the box.
4. Paint and decorate the box. We used basic washable paint and then coated it with a thin layer of glitter glue applied with a paint brush, Glitter glue is a great way to make something sparkly but without all the mess that comes with loose glitter. I also printed out an image of the comedy-tragedy masks for the roof peak, to which my son added googlie eyes!
5. Add the curtains. We cut the decorative paper napkin in half, draped the two parts over a piece of string cut a bit longer that the box was wide and then duct-taped the ends inside the box. (see photo)
The curtains aren't the fanciest in the world, but they require no sewing and anyone can make them!
DIY Puppet Ideas
Gather or make your puppets. If you already have finger puppets, great! Use those, or if your kids are not yet burnt out with crafting, make your own paper puppets using our diy puppet ideas below ...or you can tape a Hot Wheels car to a craft stick...., which is what my son did! Vroom!
- Origami finger puppets
- Printable finger and stick puppets (including seasonally-themed puppets)
- Magazine stick puppets
Post updated 2022.
Raising a Happy Child says
It looks awesome, and I like the color theme 🙂 We also made a puppet theater like this in the past. I need to get it out one of these days and refresh the puppets.
Jennifer Fischer says
I love puppets! I also love that this is an upcycle project.
Momand Kiddo says
Thanks. I was pretty happy that I was able to make it with things we already had.
Julie says
"I fail so you can learn." Love it. I might have to borrow that one. You made me LOL today.
Momand Kiddo says
I aim to please! 🙂
Fanny Harville says
I love this, and my favorite part is the Hot Wheels on a stick!
Momand Kiddo says
Mine, too.
Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk says
We recently made a puppet stage with a cardboard bread stick box. Great fun. However, we didn't think to tape a car to a stick, lovin' that and so will my little guy!
Be blessed,
Julie @ Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk
Kelly at Little Wonders' Days says
It's really cute! I bet it's a lot of fun too.
Ness @ Onbe Perfect Day says
This is brilliant! I especially love the hot wheels on a stick. That is exactly what would happen at our place too. I've just shared this on The Weekly Kids' Co-op FB wall and I'll be featuring it on my blog tomorrow as one of my favorites from last week's link up.
Momand Kiddo says
Thanks, Ness!
The Educators Spin On It says
This is such a cute idea, and I love how your sons decorated it. I can imagine they had hours of fun putting on shows for each other. We had so much fun with ours that we received in our Love Book Exchange this summer. http://theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/2012/07/love-books-spoon-by-amy-krouse.html
Momand Kiddo says
I love those spoon puppets that your made.
BéBé Chérie says
Great idea!!! I love how the kids can participate in making the theater too! Thanks for sharing!
Momand Kiddo says
They had a lot of fun with it.
Fotodor says
Your page is so perfect. I love all the how to's and the pictures and everything about it. You are great!!
Cecilia says
Hi Erica Special Person.
Thank you very much for sharing.
I was going to start to do a hand puppet theatre for my 4y old grand daughter and I decided to have a
look in the net - there you are! Sharing so much.
Hope your life is going well.
Very grateful
Cecilia