Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Celebrations · The activity desk
Leprechaun story puppet
Make a paper-bag puppet for a pretend St. Patrick's Day story.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
A clean paper lunch bag and large child-appropriate crayons
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: Lay the folded bag flat with its bottom flap facing up.
Adult's role: Explain that leprechauns are characters from Irish folklore. Help draw the face and invite your child to invent a story.
Let's make it happen
- Draw a face and hat on the folded bottom flap. Add a jacket or other details to the bag below it.
- Put your hand inside the bag and move the flap gently to make the puppet talk.
- Invent a short adventure for your character and invite someone to join in if they wish.
Make it simpler: Draw a face on a sheet of paper and hold it up as a story character.
Clean up: Put crayons away and store or recycle the bag.
Keep the bag away from faces and younger children. Use crayons suitable for your child and stay nearby.