Shadow puppets for kids

But first, they need to master the basics of creating their shapes. We've got a great collection of 15 easy shadow puppets for kids to try, featuring super simple and beginner shadow puppets, animal hand shadow puppets and one hand shadow puppets too.

Simply follow our step-by-step guides below and your kids will be hand shadow puppet pros in no time.

How to make hand shadow puppets

It's very easy to make hand shadow puppets. First, find a clear wall (light-coloured works best). Then, put a bedside lamp or flashlight on a surface near to the wall so it shines a light onto the wall. Then, put your hand between the wall and the light and you're ready to get started!

Our guides to making animal hand shadow puppets below will give you some inspiration for shadow puppet shapes you can make with your hands.

Animal hand shadow puppets

Dog hand shadow puppet

1. Stretch out your middle, ring and little fingers so they're pointing away from you and your thumbs are pointing upwards
2. Curl your index fingers inwards towards your thumb
3. Move the little fingers down and away from the other two fingers to create the bottom of the dog's mouth
4. Join both hands together so one of your index fingers is placed on the other and your thumbs form a 'V' shape to make the dog's ears
5. Move your little finger up and down to make the dog 'bark'

Credit: Parent Circle

Butterfly hand shadow puppet

1. Cross your hands diagonally at the wrist
2. Cross your thumbs
3. Keep all your other fingers pressed against each other and push them forward and backwards to create wings for the butterfly

Credit: Podo Town English

Bird hand shadow puppet

1. Face your palms together (but not touching) and keep your fingers on each hand pressed together
2. Move your palms in front of you and put one behind the other so your two thumbs are sticking up at either end
3. Push your palms in opposite directions until your thumbs meet and push them together, push your hands lightly up so ythey create a 'V' shape
4. Keep your hands slightly bent at the knuckle to really create the bird's 'wings'
5. 'Flutter' your fingers towards and away from you to make the bird 'fly'

Credit: Draw Colby - Hand Shadow Artist

Snail hand shadow puppet

1. On one hand, put your middle and index finger up to create a 'V' and put this against the wall — this creates the snail's body
2. Make a fist with your other hand and place it relative to the first hand so it creates the snail's 'shell' (you can move the shell closer and further away from the wall to make it bigger or smaller)

Credit: Draw Colby - Hand Shadow Artist

Moose hand shadow puppet

1. With one hand, fold in your thumb and cross your index fingers inwards behind your other fingers
2. Place this hand in front of you sideways so your fingers are pointing either left of right (depending on which hand you use)
3. Hold up your other hand so your fingers are pointing upwards and spread your fingers apart to create the moose's antlers

Credit: Podo Town English

Rabbit hand shadow puppet

1. With your left hand, fold your ring and little finger in, then stretch out your middle finger
2. Bend your index finger towards the thumb to create a loop shape
3. With your right hand, fold your index finger in at both joints
4. Curve your thumb slightly and let the tip press gently on your index finger's tip
5. Stretch out your ring and little fingers, perpendicular to the thumb
6. Stretch out your middle finger away from the other fingers to form a 'V' shape
7. Rest the back of the right hand on top of the left hand (as shown in the image above)

Credit: Parent Circle

Giraffe hand shadow puppet

1. On your left hand, stretch the fingers perpendicular to the thumb
2. Lightly grip the space between the outstretched fingers and the thumb with the fingers from your right hand
3. Stretch your right thumb parallel to the left one (as shown in the image above)

Credit: Parent Circle

Deer hand shadow puppet

1. On your right hand, tuck your thumb and index finger into your hand behind your palm and other fingers so your index finger is resting behind the middle finger
2. Still on the right hand, tuck your little finger slightly behind the ring finger
3. Your right hand should look like a triangle
4. On your left hand, spread out all your fingers slightly, then curl your fingers and thumbs slightly in at the joints
5. Place the back of your left hand on top of the right hand at the base of your thumb, along the edge of the lower end of the palm

Credit: Parent Circle

Horse hand shadow puppet

1. Bend your right hand at the wrist so it's at a 90 degree angle to your forearm
2. Keep your fingers pressed together
3. Raise your thumb up
4. Repeat the thumb and finger positioning with your left hand so your fingers and pressed together and your thumb is in an extended position
5. Cover your right hand with your left hand and cross your thumbs

Credit: Draw Colby - Hand Shadow Artist

Goat hand shadow puppet

1. On your right hand, bend your index, middle and ring fingers loosely and fold them down so they're perpendicular to your palm
2. Bend the little finger at the middle joint so it points downwards
3. Keep your thumb pointed upwards
4. On your left hand, fold your thumb inside
5. Keep your index and middle fingers straight (to create a slim 'V')
6. Bend your ring and little fingers down slightly
7. Place your left hand on top of the right hand (as shown in the image)

Credit: Parent Circle

Crab hand shadow puppet

1. Cross your hands at the wrist with both hands pointing diagonally away from each other
2. Fold your thumbs in slightly so the joint is still showing in the shadow
3. Spread all your fingers out
4. Wiggle your fingers around to make the crab move

Credit: Podo Town English

Ostrich hand shadow puppet

1. Clasp the fingers of both your hands together in front of you
2. Twist your hands so the back of one hand is facing you and the other is facing the wall
3. Stretch both of your thumbs up to form a 'V' shape

Credit: Parent Circle

Cat hand shadow puppet

1. Bend your left arm so your forearm and hand are pointing upwards
2. Make a fist with your left hand
3. Bend your index and little fingers up so they're slightly above your other fingers
4. Tuck your thumb over your index finger
5. Bring your arm down slightly and rest your left elbow on your right palm
6. Point out your index finger on your right hand to make the cat's tail

Top pic: Getty

Camel one-hand shadow puppet

1. Using one hand, stack your little, ring and middle fingers on top of each other and bend them slightly down so they're perpendicular to your palm
2. Tuck your thumb in underneath these three fingers
3. Bend your index finger slightly up so it sits higher than your other fingers

Goose one-hand shadow puppet

1. Place your arm across your body so your palm is facing downwards
2. Bend your middle finger so the base of the finger sits above your ring finger, but the tip of the finger is pointing down
3. Bring your little finger down so it's separated from the other fingers
4. Bend your index finger up so it's bent above the other fingers
5. Tuck your thumb into your palm

Pic: Getty

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