Hand and finger puppets to keep kids entertained


by Adejumoke Ilori |
Updated on

Kids love hand puppets for several compelling reasons, as they offer a unique blend of play, learning, and emotional expression.

Finger puppets are small, often simple puppets that fit over a single finger. They are typically made from fabric, felt, or other soft materials and are designed to be worn like tiny gloves on your fingers. Each finger puppet represents a character, animal, or object and is used to enact stories, entertain, or educate.  While, hand puppets are larger than finger puppets and are designed to cover the entire hand. They often have more detailed features and movable parts, such as mouths or arms.

Best at a glance finger and hand puppets:

  • Best animal finger puppets: Pack of 15 Animal Finger Puppets 4 Themed from Zoo, £9.99

  • Best finger puppets for families: Losuya 6pcs Cartoon People Family Members Puppets Toys, £8.99

  • Best multicultural hand puppets: Educational hand puppets, £27.79

  • Best Disney hand puppets: Mickey Mouse & Friends Soft & Cuddly Hand Puppets, £34.26

Both types of puppets encourage imaginative play and creative storytelling. Children can create their own stories and scenarios, enhancing their creativity and narrative skills. Also, puppetry helps develop verbal communication skills. Children practice dialogue, expand their vocabulary, and improve their ability to express thoughts and emotions. They also bring stories to life, making reading sessions more interactive and captivating for young audiences.

So, whether you are looking for a spark in imagination, creativity, and endless fun, or maybe playful companions for your child, engaging educational tools, or delightful additions to your puppet theater, here we chosen the best ones for you.

Best animal finger puppets

These animal finger puppets feature bright colors and adorable designs that instantly capture children’s attention and interest. Children can easily manipulate these small puppets, making them move and "talk," which adds an interactive element to playtime that is both engaging and entertaining.

One packs contains 15 adorable animals: 4 different themes: Farm Animals(cow, sheep, chick, duck), Pet Animals(dog, cat, rabbit), Zoo/Wild Animals(tiger, monkey, panda, bear), Sea Animals(whale, frog, turtle, hippocampus) 

One parent review said: "These kept our 18 month old amused for ages on a long car journey, and she continues to play with them, so very much worth it for that. Although I was sitting with her playing, I wouldn't recommend leaving them with a toddler unaccompanied."

Pros

  • One pack includes 15 cute animals of 4 different themes: Farm Animals(cow, sheep, chick, duck), Pet Animals(dog, cat, rabbit), Zoo/Wild Animals(tiger, monkey, panda, bear), Sea Animals(whale, frog, turtle, hippocampus) 
  • Each puppet has an elastic loop on the bottom, making it suitable for most adults or children's fingers

Cons

  • One review said the finger holes were too tiny

Best finger puppets for families

These 6 cute people puppets offer unique benefits that make them valuable tools for play, education, and emotional development. Designed to resemble human characters, provide a rich avenue for exploring social interactions, cultural diversity, and personal expression, will encourage your little one to express their feelings and show their inner talents.
**
One grandmother said:** “These are just what i wanted for my 2-year-old grandson. They are lovely and so like our comedy family and super fun for enabling learning on so many levels. Puppets are an amazing learning tool and encourages talking, which can sometimes be a difficult topic in young and older children”

Pros

  • Made of high-quality plush fabrics
  • The cartoon finger puppet set contains 6 finger puppets in different shape

Cons

  • One review said the seams fell apart

Best hand puppet for motor skills

Melissa & Doug hand puppets are crafted from durable, high-quality fabrics that withstand regular use and rough play, ensuring they last for a long time. Each puppet features realistic, expressive faces and intricate designs that enhance their visual appeal and make them more engaging for children. The puppets are made from soft, plush materials that are gentle to the touch, making them comfortable for both children and adults to use.

It features 6 soft and cuddly hand puppets with a safari animal theme (elephant, a tiger, a parrot, a giraffe, a monkey and a zebra, making playtime fun always.

One mum review said: “I bought these as a birthday present for my 3-year-old niece and nephew and they loved them. I also bought a tabletop puppet show theatre so they could do little shows for the family and build their confidence presenting and performing for everyone. It’s been magical to watch them perform little shows. The puppets themselves are very well made, nice and soft and so far very durable, even in the hands of small little terrors. Would recommend these to anyone, it's a great alternative to other games consol or electrical toy.”

Pros

  • Includes 6 soft and cuddly hand puppets with a safari animal theme (elephant, a tiger, a parrot, a giraffe, a monkey and a zebra)
  • Great for storytelling, motor skill development, practicing vocabulary, expressing emotions
  • For kids ages 2 and up.

Cons

  • A few left in stock

Best multicultural hand puppets

These multicultural hand puppets introduce children to different cultures, ethnicities, and traditions. This early exposure helps broaden their understanding and appreciation of global diversity. They are made of soft and materials, and their mouths can move stress-free to create facial expressions and sounds. They are suitable for playdates and playing with children of all ages, and can help them hand-eye coordination, imagination and boosting their confidence skills.

It will also help provide a safe and creative way for children to express their own feelings and understand the emotions of others, helping them navigate complex social situations.

This set includes 6 hand puppets depicting diverse family members, offering children a into different cultures and backgrounds through imaginative play.

Pros

  • Designed with movable mouths
  • Puppets enable interactive storytelling and role-playing
  • Each puppet is crafted from materials, ensuring long-lasting use and maintaining their vibrant colors and features

Cons

  • ‎12 years and up

Best Disney hand puppets

Disney hand puppets
Price: $22.49
Alternative retailers
Target$13.59View offer
Macy's$16.99View offer
Kohl's$22.49View offer
JCPenney$26.60View offer

Mickey Mouse and friends hand puppets inspire imaginative storytelling. Children can use the puppet to create their own adventures, exploring various scenarios and narratives with a character they know and love. With this children can role-play different situations and interactions with Mickey Mouse anf friends, which enhances their creative thinking and problem-solving skills, and create their own cartoon show.

Set includes a 4-pack of soft and plush puppets: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy.

Pros

  • This hand-puppets set is sized to fit children and most adults
  • Encourages motor skills and hand-eye coordination
  • Disney-themed hand-puppet set

Cons

  • ‎24 months and up

Best hand puppets for feelings

feelings hand puppets

Rrp: $29.99

Price: $18.99
Alternative retailers
Target$18.99View offer
Walmart$18.99View offer
Michaels Stores$24.59View offer
Kohl's$29.99View offer

These feelings family hand puppets provide a safe and creative way for children to express their emotions. By using the puppets to act out different feelings, children can explore and articulate their own experiences. These puppets help children identify and understand various emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear, something that is crucial for emotional intelligence and personal development.

Includes 5 cute emotions hand puppets for kids: happy is yellow, sad is blue, surprised is purple, angry is red, and scared is green.

One auntie review said: "I ordered these learning puppets for my young nephew who has Downs Syndrome which affects how he communicates. You receive 5 x puppets per order that arrive neatly packaged. Each of the puppets come in a different vibrant colour with a different pattern too. The puppets are designed to portray an emotion which helps teach children about their emotions, but also helps them express their emotions.”

Pros

  • Help children learn about their feelings and emotions
  • Encourages children to explore their feelings and emotions through guided and free play
  • Puppets are sized to fit a child’s hands and most adults' hands
  • Made from soft, high quality fabric

Cons

  • One review said they are slightly big for my 4yr old hands

Best Peppa Pig finger puppets

These adorable Peppa Pig finger puppets inspire imaginative storytelling, allowing children to create their own adventures and scenarios, enhancing their creativity and narrative skills. Your little one will also be able to take turns during playtime using the puppets, sharing them with friends or siblings, and working together to create stories, which promotes social skills and teamwork. Your child can also explore themes from the Peppa Pig TV show, such as sharing, kindness, and curiosity, reinforcing positive behaviors and social lessons in a fun and interactive way.

Peppa Pig family finger puppets includes Peppa, George, Mummy & Daddy Pig.

One mum review said: "“My daughter loves to play the daddy finger game while singing the song, and tends to put pen lids on her fingers, until I found these! I had to buy them for her! She loves them and they are so cute and very well made.”

Pros

  • Perfect for storytelling and imaginative play
  • Fun and Safe for children aged 2+
  • Comes in a Silver window lid keepsake tin, which is great for storage

Cons

  • Suitable for ‎2 months old and up

Best for nursery rhymes

Nursey Ryhmes finger puppets
Price: $47.21
Alternative retailers
Walmart$48.00View offer
Michaels Stores$51.19View offer

These cute finger puppets, will help make nursery rhymes more interactive and engaging for your child, holding their attention better than just reciting or singing the rhymes. Most times, you've probably found yourself humming or singing nursery rhymes like: 'Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall' or 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' - while washing the dishes or doing the hoovering? we get it! And if you don't know the words, don't panic! - This puppet set comes with a hard back book with all of the musical singing words.

The set contains: Fish, Humpty Dumpty, Black Sheep, Incy Wincy Spider, Twinkle Star, Brown Mouse, all from different nursery rhymes.

One grandparent review said: " bought these finger puppets and the Nursery Rhyme book for my little great granddaughter who is almost one. The puppets are colourful and well made. She enjoys being read to and the finger puppets add something extra. She does play with them also."

Pros

  • Contains a book and also finger puppets of the main characters in the story
  • Eight different stories to collect
  • Beautifully boxed 

Cons

  • ‎12 months and up
  • One review said the pages are not suitable for a small child to handle

Remember, hand puppets and finger puppets are timeless toys that offer a myriad of benefits for children and adults alike.

They serve as powerful tools for imaginative play, emotional expression, and educational enrichment, making them invaluable in both home and classroom settings.

FAQs

What are finger puppets and hand puppets?

Finger Puppets: Small puppets that fit over a single finger, often used for storytelling and imaginative play.

Hand Puppets: Larger puppets that cover the entire hand, allowing more complex movements and expressions.

What materials are commonly used to make finger and hand puppets?

Puppets can be made from various materials including fabric, felt, plush, foam, and even recycled materials. High-quality puppets often use soft and durable fabrics.

At what age are puppets appropriate for children?

Finger puppets are generally suitable for children aged 3 and up due to their small parts. Hand puppets are also suitable for children aged 3 and up, but simpler designs can be used by younger children under adult supervision.

How do puppets benefit children’s development?

Imagination and Creativity: Encourage storytelling and creative play.

Communication Skills: Improve language and social skills.

Emotional Expression: Provide a safe outlet for expressing feelings.

Motor Skills: Enhance fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

How do I clean and maintain finger and hand puppets?

Fabric Puppets: Can often be spot-cleaned with mild soap and water. Some may be machine washable; check the manufacturer's instructions.

Plush Puppets: Generally spot-clean only. Avoid immersing in water to maintain their shape and texture.

How we test and choose recommended products

Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.

Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe consistently provides great insights into which products mums like best and why, helping us highlight the products that will meet your needs.

For essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested. Full reviews from our mum testers can be found on our product pages. The winners and runners-up for each category will also appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.

Adejumoke Ilori is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum to a little girl and has worked for various digital platform. She has produced content that empowers women from all walks of life by sharing real life stories based on relationships, loving yourself and motherhood. She has also worked for OK! and New Magazine, writing product reviews, covering fashion and beauty, the latest celebrity news and lifestyle. Adejumoke enjoys spending quality time at home with her daughter creating precious memories – doing things like spa nights and grabbing popcorn and cuddling up.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us
How we write our articles and reviews
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.