Puppets and a Felt House

When I realized I needed to devote more time in preparation for family home evening, I put together a teaching file of general aids that can be adapted to both family and church lessons—with a few extra helps for the family.

1. Using a basic hand-puppet pattern, I made a family of puppets, then a family of finger puppets and stick puppets (using popsicle sticks for the stick puppets). For flannel board lessons I cut out family figures from paper and covered them with clear adhesive. These are my main visual aids for story-telling. When I use the puppets, each child takes part with one puppet.

2. To make a reminder for assignments, I cut out a house from felt and sewed on pocket-style windows and a door. This is backed with cardboard so that it will stand up. I cut out family figures from felt, glued on moveable eyes and individual names, and backed these figures with cardboard also. On the windows are taped categories such as music, prayer, lesson, treats, etc. The figures can be rotated from window to window each week.

3. When we needed a visual aid to remind us of our goals, from posterboard I cut out another house as a “message center.” It is a large Victorian-type house, colored with marking pens. To personalize it, I cut out the windows and taped a photo of each family member behind a window, so that we appear to be in the house looking out. With stickers I added a bit of lawn, a smiling sun, a hopping frog and some flowers and birds. Then I covered the whole thing with clear adhesive. On this I can write family goals, a special scripture, or a lesson idea with a grease pencil or marking pen, and it will wipe off later. This “message center” is displayed where it will serve as a reminder to all the family throughout the week.

Visual aids greatly enrich our family home evenings; and considering the rewards, the time involved in creating them is minimal. Janet Houston, Philipsburg, Montana