Puppet Workshop--Excuses

Top Ten Excuses for not using Puppets
(For People Who Think They are not Puppeteers)

How often have you watched a television show featuring puppets or a "professional" puppeteer and thought: "That looks like fun, but I could never do that!"?

If you work with children as a teacher, councilor or troop leader you have probably seen some information about making or using puppets. You may even have thought of making puppets with your group or doing a puppet show, only to talk yourself out of it.

Here are some of the reasons you may have given for not using puppets:

"I tried it once and it didn't work."

"I don't have time."

"I'm just not creative."

"I'm too old to be playing with puppets."

"No one ever taught me by playing with puppets."

"I'm too busy teaching the state curriculum--I can't waste class time doing something fun."

"My ___ (fill in the blank--principal, boss, supervisor, janitor, spouse...) wouldn't approve."

"I don't have a stage."

"I'm not a ventriloquist."

"I'm too shy to get up in front of people to do a show."

Mrs. B's reply to reasons 1-10:

Did you learn to _ (fill in the blank-- walk, ride a bicycle, drive a car, teach...) the first time you tried?

Ask a volunteer to make them for you, or if you want to make the puppets yourself, ask a volunteer to do one of the 10,000 other things you do during the course of week so that you'll have time to work on the puppets.

"AAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!"

I wish I had a penny for every time I've heard someone say this!
It's as though people think that creativity is a limited commodity and that only certain individuals are allowed to have it. Give yourself permission to "play" with the puppets and you may find you have a great deal of creativity you didn't know you had.
Your puppets won't look exactly like mine, but then again they shouldn't--they're your puppets not mine... You wouldn't expect your children to look like mine would you?

You're never too old to play with puppets. Jim Henson was 54, Shari Lewis was 65 and Edger Bergen was 75 when they died. Each was a master at puppetry and each worked with their puppets till the curtain of their life closed...So unless you can match those numbers, that will be enough of that kind of thinking!

Your teachers probably didn't teach you using _____ (fill in the blank-- computers, television, audio tapes....) either; that doesn't mean you shouldn't use them.

Children learn more easily when learning is fun.

It is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission.
(In other words, after you have successfully used puppets with your group and the parents are singing your praises, the principal, boss, supervisor, janitor will HAVE to approve! As for your spouse...ask them to help you. Husbands can be a wonderful source for props and background noises. Wives can help with dialog and costumes.)

You don't need a stage--a table, desk, or doorway will do.

You don't need to be a ventriloquist. As soon as the puppet starts speaking, it's as though you disappear-- the children won't notice you anyway.

See #9.

There, that takes care of all your excuses--now let's get to work and make some puppets!
To the Puppets

All information and graphics in these pages © C.J. Brown, 1995 and 2003. All rights reserved. These pages may be used by teachers and youth leaders without charge, but no part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means--graphic, electronic, or mechanical including phototcopying or information and retrieval systems without the express written permission of c.j.brown.


Top Ten Excuses for not using Puppets (For People Who Think They are not Puppeteers)
How often have you watched a television show featuring puppets or a "professional" puppeteer and thought: "That looks like fun, but I could never do that!"? If you work with children as a teacher, councilor or troop leader you have probably seen some information about making or using puppets. You may even have thought of making puppets with your group or doing a puppet show, only to talk yourself out of it. Here are some of the reasons you may have given for not using puppets: "I tried it once and it didn't work." "I don't have time." "I'm just not creative." "I'm too old to be playing with puppets." "No one ever taught me by playing with puppets." "I'm too busy teaching the state curriculum--I can't waste class time doing something fun." "My _______ (fill in the blank--principal, boss, supervisor, janitor, spouse...) wouldn't approve." "I don't have a stage." "I'm not a ventriloquist." "I'm too shy to get up in front of people to do a show."
Mrs. B's reply to reasons 1-10: Did you learn to _______ (fill in the blank-- walk, ride a bicycle, drive a car, teach...) the first time you tried? Ask a volunteer to make them for you, or if you want to make the puppets yourself, ask a volunteer to do one of the 10,000 other things you do during the course of week so that you'll have time to work on the puppets. "AAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!" I wish I had a penny for every time I've heard someone say this! It's as though people think that creativity is a limited commodity and that only certain individuals are allowed to have it. Give yourself permission to "play" with the puppets and you may find you have a great deal of creativity you didn't know you had. Your puppets won't look exactly like mine, but then again they shouldn't--they're your puppets not mine... You wouldn't expect your children to look like mine would you? You're never too old to play with puppets. Jim Henson was 54, Shari Lewis was 65 and Edger Bergen was 75 when they died. Each was a master at puppetry and each worked with their puppets till the curtain of their life closed...So unless you can match those numbers, that will be enough of that kind of thinking! Your teachers probably didn't teach you using _______ (fill in the blank-- computers, television, audio tapes....) either; that doesn't mean you shouldn't use them. Children learn more easily when learning is fun. It is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission. (In other words, after you have successfully used puppets with your group and the parents are singing your praises, the principal, boss, supervisor, janitor will HAVE to approve! As for your spouse...ask them to help you. Husbands can be a wonderful source for props and background noises. Wives can help with dialog and costumes.) You don't need a stage--a table, desk, or doorway will do. You don't need to be a ventriloquist. As soon as the puppet starts speaking, it's as though you disappear-- the children won't notice you anyway. See #9. There, that takes care of all your excuses--now let's get to work and make some puppets! To the Puppets All information and graphics in these pages © C.J. Brown, 1995 and 2003. All rights reserved. These pages may be used by teachers and youth leaders without charge, but no part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means--graphic, electronic, or mechanical including phototcopying or information and retrieval systems without the express written permission of c.j.brown.

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