Very young children respond enthusiastically to simple poems and songs illustrated with puppets. Consider these guidelines for the effective use of puppets with toddlers.

          1. Seat yourself so you are on the same eye level as the children. Your hands need to be free to manipulate the puppets.

          2. Quietly and slowly show the puppet; begin to repeat the poem or song rhythmically and distinctly.

          3. Avoid suddenly springing the puppet on a young child. If the child is frightened by the puppet, remove the puppet and guide the child to another activity. You may be able to reintroduce the puppet and poem/song at a later time.

Enlarge and cut out the figures from this family of finger puppets to sing “Where is Thumbkin?” or other family songs.