Marionettes have been around since ancient times. They have been found in tombs of Ancient Egypt as well as in belongings of medieval civilizations in Europe. Today you can find handmade full body puppets for sale that can be used for multiple purposes including entertainment and teaching.

Centuries ago they were used to entertain the less affluent classes of citizenry and also as teaching aids and news media for those who could not read. The Punch and Judy show is a classic example of the style of entertainment that was produced. Animals and cartoon characters are common themes for a puppet along with dragons and other mythical creatures. Today they are used for a wide variety of purposes that could never have been dreamed of two hundred years ago.

Because the people in Europe were mostly illiterate in medieval days they were sometimes used as a means of communicating important information to the masses. New skills and experiences were a part of the presentation. They also served as affordable entertainment for the people in small villages and towns. Traveling puppet shows were a cause for celebration among the common people.

Today they can be seen in psychotherapy offices that deal with children who may have been traumatized or adults that have issues communicating with others. They are excellent tools for working with autistic children to help bring them out of themselves. They are used as teaching tools for toddlers in preschools and kindergartens.

On the home front they can be used to familiarize children with the functions of police men, the fire department and doctors. The children are taught what to do if lost or hurt and can become more trusting of the doctor when visiting him for checkups or illness. There are several different occupations depicted by them and they may be instrumental with slightly older children when you are looking for areas of interest they may have.

Religious organizations also use them for teaching youngsters. Reenactments of stories from biblical times are powerful experiences for students. They seem to remember the lessons and ask questions that are pertinent when the lesson is presented as a play. Many producers of marionettes sell sets of biblical characters to aid in the programs.

In the entertainment area of this field ventriloquists and comedians spend years working to perfect their acts. The puppet used by a ventriloquist is generally called a dummy and the mouth and eyes work from inside the back with levers that make them function in a lifelike manner. They will usually have an arm rod that the performer works with his free hand and this gives the impression of greater animation to the doll.

A puppet can serve as entertainment or as a teaching tool for families across America. They are also used a decorative pieces and some of the antique ones are very valuable. The clothing they wear can be changed and many people have several costumes for them to wear. You can see the different sizes and types of marionettes and how to use them by searching the internet and viewing the sites available.