The hidden scary mouths!
A fun Halloween craft for preschool children: spooky figures with a hidden mouth — a pumpkin, a vampire and Frankenstein! Each figure hides a large mouth that disappears when folded closed — and reappears with a funny tongue when opened!
What You'll Need
- Ready-made printable with the figures (pumpkin, vampire, Frankenstein)
- Children's scissors
- Glue (stick or liquid)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 — Print and cut Print the ready-made template. Children carefully cut out the outline of each figure and the lines of the mouth, following the marked guides.
Step 2 — Fold the mouth Fold the mouth inwards along the line. When closed, the mouth disappears — when opened, a spooky mouth with a funny tongue appears!
Step 3 — Make the handles From two separate paper strips that children cut themselves, they make the "handles": glue one on each side of the folded back of the mouth, left and right.
Step 4 — Play! Slip your fingers through the handles and open and close the mouth just like a little hand puppet! The figure talks, snaps at the air and says "boo!"
⚠️ Safety note: Always work with supervision, use safety scissors and allow the glue to dry fully before playing.
Educational Benefits
Fine motor skills: Cutting outlines, folding along lines and gluing strips exercise the small muscles of the hands — excellent preparation for writing.
Understanding sequential steps: The process of "cut–fold–glue–try" develops logical thinking and the ability to follow instructions in order — a key cognitive skill.
Hand-eye coordination: Precisely cutting along lines and placing the handles in the correct position develop visual-motor coordination.
Language development and dramatic expression: The "performance" with the puppets nurtures speech, role-play and humour — the figures talk, snap and surprise!
Imagination and creative thinking: A simple paper figure comes alive in a child's hands — the most wonderful transformation of all!
