- 1). Stand an appliance-sized cardboard box or tri-fold display board vertically on a flat and steady surface. Mark a rectangular window on one side of the box or on the center panel of the display board. Mark this window 1 1/2 feet wide by 1 foot tall, at a comfortable height level for your child while he is sitting or kneeling using hand puppets at the window.
- 2). Cut out and remove the window from the box. Remove any extra flaps at the top or bottom of the box and open one side by removing the panel that is opposite the window. If you are using a display board, only remove the window.
- 3). Help your children paint the outside of the box or board one base color with craft paint, available in various quantities in craft stores. Allow the paint to dry. Paint the name of your puppet playhouse in a different color above the window using a thin brush. Choose a name like "Sally's Puppet Theater" or "Tristan's Puppet Playhouse." Decorate the playhouse with details such as painted images of puppets or shapes or use a pattern of stripes or dots. Allow all of the paint to dry before using the playhouse.
- 4). Cut a 1/8-inch thick dowel rod to 24 inches long with a hack saw or table saw. Hold the dowel rod 1/2 inch below the top edge of the window opening, so that it runs across the window on the inside of the playhouse. Tape it in place with masking tape at each end, inside of the playhouse.
- 5). Cut two 24-inch by 24-inch squares of fabric. Fold 1/4 inch of each edge of the fabric squares inward and pin them in place with straight pins all the way around. Hand-stitch the folds with needle and thread to hem them in place and eliminate the raw fabric edge.
- 6). Drape the fabric panels over the portion of the dowel rod that runs across the window opening so the back of the hems do not show. Slide the fabric panels away from the center of the window to open them and start your puppet show.
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