3yo bday gift? is he too young for a puppet theater?

[rainbowmoon]

I am wondering what to get for a presentfor my DS for his 3rd bday. (it's in the beginning of March) He is currently truck & car obsessed and got a ton of all that for xmas. :

I would really like to get something open ended and thinking of a puppet theater, or is he too young? he is just starting to get into pretend play.(and the plus is we already have some great puppets thanks to some folkmani's co-ops here on MDC a couple of years ago)

I thought I might sew a hanging one but would a freestanding wood one be better? (I am afraid he'd tear down a fabric one) any ideas or advice? :

[*clementine*]

I think three is a PERFECT age for a puppet theatre. And by the way...I know where they sell one that's to die for....price wise as well lol.
http://www.arborkids.com/product/1000047/24
and they have a new less expensive one as well....
http://www.arborkids.com/product/100...914b0c94dfdf9d

[4Marmalade]

I think it's the perfect age too. We don't have a puppet theatre but this past Christmas my ds (4) and dd (19 months) got a bunch of puppets. They love playing with them and put on shows all the time.

[zenma]

The cool thing about a free standing tri-fold one is that it also could provide a great base for tents and caves.

[Literate]

I think I saw that someone over in the arts and crafts forum made a doorway one using a shower curtain rod. I thought that was clever. Take the money you save to buy more handpuppets! Man, I love Manhattan Toys. Sometimes Costco has multi-packs of cute handpuppets.

Or, if you want to extend your pretend play options, you could consider this:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000CCXF7G

It's a kitchen! It's a puppet theater! etc.

[onthemove]

dh built my dd's a puppet theatre for Christmas, they are 6 and almost 4. I think 3 would be the perfect age for this as they are starting to role play and tell stories. awesome idea!

We have a wide range of children through our house and they all have to try it out. Not to mention how much fun we have had making the puppets and cutting things out to put on a popsicle stick to act as backgrounds, scenery, or puppets.

[rainbowmoon]

:

[rainbowmoon]

I just don't know if we have room for a big wood one. I will have to think on that! maybe the doorway one would be the best option? I saw one that was nice searching the net...I am just so undecided!

I looked at the tabletop ones but not sure if he'd even use it? (they seem so small and puny)

[rainbowmoon]

just wanted to update... I think I am going to wait on this for awhile. I bought him a 6ft canvas teepee instead for outside!