Released on = March 3, 2007, 5:10 am

Press Release Author = Dance to Health

Industry = Healthcare

Press Release Summary = Puppets and Children who have Special Needs.

Press Release Body =

Puppets really engage and delight children.

These movable figures come in many shapes and sizes. There are marionettes, glove,
rod, finger and shadow puppets to mention a few. They are all operated differently.

The making and using of puppets can be a form of serious, carefully thought-out or
joyfully spontaneous activity. Spontaneity can be very important as it avoids the
planned lesson-like feeling that is associated with school.


MAKING PUPPETS

You can buy beautiful puppets in every form imaginable. If your child really enjoys
this activity it might be worth buying a few. But a lot of fun can be had just using
things that are to hand. Paper bags, paper cups and plates, plastic bottles, a sock,
a pillow case with a ball tied into one end as a head, ice lolly sticks with small
pictures portraying whatever you like attached at one end.. The figures do not
necessarily need hands, feet or a body. If you attach weights (e.g. button, beads)
to a piece of cloth it creates the impression of a body. Take the stuffing out of a
toy, add a rod and hey presto it has a different use!

You can create shadow puppets just by using your two hands. They can also easily be
made by cutting shapes out of plastic, acetate or cellophane and decorated with such
things as sweet wrappers.


HOW DO YOU MAKE THEM MOVE?

In operating a glove puppet the first finger goes into the puppet\'s head, the
second and third fingers are held down as arms. You need to work with your arms
stretched out. Make the figure come alive by moving your shoulders and elbows not
by turning the wrist.

Operating marionettes requires long practise and great skill and may be beyond most
of us.


THE PERFORMANCE

You can create your own stories, perhaps incorporating the child\'s own ideas or
using favorite stories or happenings in their own life. Fairy stories are always a
great idea. The script could even be based around a song. You don\'t always need a
story. Your child may happily ad-lib.


SPECIAL EFFECTS

Music and sound will add atmosphere to the presentation.


THE THEATRE

There are many ways of creating a theatre. For glove puppets working above a sheet
suspended between two chairs is probably the simplest..

Using an overhead projector allows the shadow puppets to appear larger than they
actually are. A white sheet lit from behind forms a screen for shadow puppets.

EXPLORE AND EXPERIMENT WITH PUPPETS WITH YOUR CHILD. IT WILL BE FUN
http://www.dance-to-health-help-your-special-needs-child.com







KEYWORDS

puppets
art therapy
children
special needs
parents

Web Site = http://www.dance-to-health-help-your-special-needs-child.com

Contact Details = Dzagbe Cudjoe