Here’s how we made our sign language puppet 1-2-3. All you need is: an over-sized stuffed animal with floppy arms, an old long sleeved shirt (that you don’t mind cutting), a rubber band (or hair elastic), scissors, and a pair of gloves.

I’ve seen people cut the arms off the stuffed animal, but that could freak the little ones out. (My mom tells me how my grandfather had to pen in an amendment to Goldilocks and the Three Bears, whereby Papa Bear fixed Baby Bear’s chair. I was apparently very upset that the chair had been broken by Goldi.)

So, all you have to do is use the hair elastic to pull your furry friend’s arms back (almost like your handcuffing it) and then put the old shirt on it. Then, use your judgement to decide where you should cut 2 slits for your arms to go through. And ta-da, stick your hands into the sleeves and put on the gloves.