Reindeer are such beautiful animals and get well deserved special recognition at this time of the year. I had fun inventing a reindeer puppet craft using palm prints and fingerprints. I used my hand first to see if it would work and then did it with the Sugar Snaps. It looks much cuter with their tiny hands! I also came up with a poem activity to go along with the puppets. I am sharing a free printable of this activity so you can try it with your children or students.
Palm Print and Fingerprint Reindeer Puppet Craft
You will need:
- Brown washable paint (or mix your own from other colors. I used this tutorial on how to make brown paint from all other colors from WikiHow as a guide to mix mine).
- White paper or white or light colored cardstock (if you want the paper firmer for a puppet).
- Brown or red pom pom for nose
- One set of google eyes
- Paint brush
- Scissors
- Wet paper towels, wash cloth or baby wipes
- Craft sticks
- glue
Set out a sheet of white paper. Paint your child’s palm brown and print it onto the paper. Wipe it off. Next, paint the fingertip of one index finger brown and help your preschooler to print ears, refreshing paint after each ear. Paint the entire index finger brown to print antlers, refreshing after each one. Then, paint and print the pinkie fingertip (and a little beyond) brown to make the tines (the ‘branches’) that come off of each antler. Allow to dry. Have your child glue on a pom pom nose and google eyes. If you want to make a puppet, cut around the reindeer face or have your preschooler cut it out. Have your child glue it onto a popsicle stick and allow it to dry before use.
I am sharing the poem I created to go along with the puppets below. You could have the children act out the poem with the puppets or wear reindeer antlers and act it out. Reindeer headbands can often be found at dollar stores or in dollar sections of department stores. Or, you could have the children make their own antler headbands. If you do not have the time or materials for the craft, simply have the children put their hands above their heads, palms out, to mime antlers.
For More Reindeer fun:
Swat the Letter: Reindeer Preschool Literacy Activity from Learning 2 Walk
Alphabet Activities: Reindeer Roll from Growing Book by Book
Reindeer Preschool Activities with Play Dough and Songs from Life Over C’s
Reindeer Noses Playdough Math Mats for Preschool: 1-to-1 Correspondence from the Preschool Toolbox Blog
Palm Print Reindeer Craft and Poem from Capri +3
Racing Reindeer Number Line Activity from Mom Inspired Life
Reindeer Christmas Snacks for Kids from Fun-A-Day
Reindeer Math Games for Preschool Learning from The Educators’ Spin On It
Emma @ P is for Preschooler says
These are super-cute! I love the poem to go with it too. My daughter's favorite part would certainly be painting her own hand! lol!
Amanda Boyarshinov says
I love the literacy connection! Playing with puppets is such a fantastic learning tool. Thanks for sharing!
Theresa says
Thank you Emma.
The Sugar Snaps love having paint on their hands and feet. It cracks them up no matter how often we do it.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Thank you Amanda.
They had fun making their puppets and enjoy using them with the poem.
: 0 ) Theresa
Growing Book by Book says
Such a fun poem and the puppets are so cute!
Theresa says
Thank you Growing Book by Book.
They had fun making them.
: 0 ) Theresa
Danielle Buckley says
The puppets are so fun and I love the poem! Great idea!
Theresa says
Thank you Danielle.
: 0 ) Theresa
shelah moss says
These are precious. I would want to do this activity every year and see the hand prints grow.
Theresa says
Hi Shelah.
It would be fun to see progressively bigger reindeer. I think they would be cute as ornaments with a string instead of a stick or on holiday cards too.
: 0 ) Theresa
JTNCM Young says
I love this! What a precious momento this is for a mommy or grandma. I'm sharing with my readers from http://www.Happpy2BaHomemaker.com. 🙂
Tracee
Theresa Pickett says
Totally cute. I can't wait to try this at home. My girls will love it.
Theresa says
Hi JTNCM Young.
Thank you so much for sharing this with your readers. I appreciate it and I hope they enjoy it.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Theresa.
Than you. I hope your girls enjoy it.
: 0 ) Theresa
Mindful Momma says
Awesome idea – and a wonderful keepsake!
Theresa says
Thank you Mindful Momma.
: 0 ) Theresa
Amanda Vasquez says
So cute!
Theresa says
Thank you Amanda.
: 0 ) Theresa
Pschooltoolbox says
Love this poem and puppets! Always great to find new resources to add to our collection! Great post!
Theresa says
Thank you Preschool Toolbox.
: 0 ) Theresa
waldorfsaladandcottagefries.com says
wonderful idea and the poem is sweet touch too
Theresa says
Thank you Waldorfsaladandcottagefries.
We had a lot of fun with this.
: 0 ) Theresa
Deborah Nielson says
I really liked the poem you created to go along with the puppets. Anything that captures the size of my children's hands at a given moment in time is fabulous!
MommyCrusader.com
Mary Catherine says
I love the idea of using hand print art for puppets!!! 🙂
Theresa says
Thank you Deborah.
It is amazing to capture a moment in time with hand prints or footprints.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Thank you Mary Catherine.
We had fun making and using them.
: 0 ) Theresa
Leslie says
Such a cute idea! These would be adorable for holiday decorations around the house.
Theresa says
Thank you. I love having the kids’art around the house. It always makes me smile. : 0 )