A friend and I were finishing our work building a puppet stage and I stood back and said, "It will be fun and exciting to use this in our ministry someday." To my surprise, someday came a lot faster than I thought it would.
Only one week later my husband and I were leading a VBS group with a number of energetic children from the inner city. We had a lot of difficulty keeping their attention and we knew that it was going to be a challenge to get them to come back every day for the week.
To my husband's surprise I announced to the group, "Come back tomorrow, we'll be having a puppet skit!"
"And who will be leading the puppet show?" he asked.
"I will!" I responded with confidence.
Although it wasn't planned, at that time we learned what a powerful and productive tool puppets can be for teaching and children's ministry. Even with simple skits that week we focused just on helping the children with memory verses and re-enforcing the lessons of the day, and the children kept coming back because of the puppets. We realized then that puppets brought a great deal of potential.
Why are puppets so effective for teaching children? The attention of the kids becomes almost glued to the puppets because the seem to have life. Teachers and ministry leaders can use puppets to grab and hold the attention of kids by using puppets for just about any purpose.
While the puppets are fun for the kids, they also provide an effective learning atmosphere. Because they pay attention so well to the puppets, teachers can present lessons and messages more effectively through the use of puppets.
Fortunately for teachers and ministry leaders, puppets can be made for just about anything that you may have around the house, and there is no need to spend a lot of money to start a puppet ministry.
Various organizations provide helpful resources for puppetry, but the most important things you need are enthusiasm and courage to get started!
Lord, show me if You want me to include puppets in my ministry to boys and girls. And if You do, I will trust You for enthusiasm and courage.
Only one week later my husband and I were leading a VBS group with a number of energetic children from the inner city. We had a lot of difficulty keeping their attention and we knew that it was going to be a challenge to get them to come back every day for the week.
To my husband's surprise I announced to the group, "Come back tomorrow, we'll be having a puppet skit!"
"And who will be leading the puppet show?" he asked.
"I will!" I responded with confidence.
Although it wasn't planned, at that time we learned what a powerful and productive tool puppets can be for teaching and children's ministry. Even with simple skits that week we focused just on helping the children with memory verses and re-enforcing the lessons of the day, and the children kept coming back because of the puppets. We realized then that puppets brought a great deal of potential.
Why are puppets so effective for teaching children? The attention of the kids becomes almost glued to the puppets because the seem to have life. Teachers and ministry leaders can use puppets to grab and hold the attention of kids by using puppets for just about any purpose.
While the puppets are fun for the kids, they also provide an effective learning atmosphere. Because they pay attention so well to the puppets, teachers can present lessons and messages more effectively through the use of puppets.
Fortunately for teachers and ministry leaders, puppets can be made for just about anything that you may have around the house, and there is no need to spend a lot of money to start a puppet ministry.
Various organizations provide helpful resources for puppetry, but the most important things you need are enthusiasm and courage to get started!
Lord, show me if You want me to include puppets in my ministry to boys and girls. And if You do, I will trust You for enthusiasm and courage.
About the Author:
Dr. Ann Shorb has more than 25 years of experience working with puppets in children's ministry. Her website includes a number of puppet skits that can be downloaded. She is also a Christian therapist with CCES in Hanover, PA.
