Paper bag puppets are probably the simplest type of puppet that you can make. To start, you will need a paper bag and some construction paper or crayons/markers. Cut out facial features and attach them to the face (the bottom of an opened bag) of the bag puppet. To make this puppet craft even more simple color the bag to look like the face of a bat. Make the wings of the bat by cutting out a semi circle to the diameter that you want the wings to be. Scallop the edge of the circle that is straight and then adhere the wings to the back of the bag. To make your own bat finger puppets, start with a black glove, some fabric glue, felt and any decorations that you want to use on your bats. To make a bat out of each one of the fingers on the glove, take a piece of felt and cut out a circle. Cut the circle in half and scallop the straight edge (the same way as was introduced above) to make the wings. Use the fabric glue to adhere the wings. You can add triangle felt cut outs of ears and embellish each finger puppet with wiggly eyes, tie a small ribbon and glue it to the top of one bat’s head to make a female bat, etc. Use your imagination and then have fun playing with the puppets or giving them as gifts.
For educational purposes
Another great way to keep kids interested in bats all year long is to take an educational approach to your crafts. You can take the opportunity when making a bat craft to explain what a nocturnal animal is and what other animals are nocturnal. You can help to debunk some of the myths that may make bats scary to some children. You can incorporate a series of different crafts that teach things like the ‘B’ sound or things that fly. The point is to not feel limited to only making bat crafts with your kids when Halloween is near.
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