Queens Safety Puppet Theatre

Founded in 1994, the Queens Borough President's Safety Puppet Theatre is sponsored by the Queens Borough President and is run in conjunction with the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety and Magical Stage. The purpose of the Puppet Theatre is to teach children in kindergarten through second grade about traffic safety. Everything from crossing at the corner, waiting on the curb, to the importance of car seats for infants and small children, is covered.

To date, the show has been seen by more than 50,000 students-and keeps growing.

The Show:

Using three-foot puppets, two professionally trained puppeteers perform a show on traffic safety and injury prevention. The puppets were designed to represent children from ethnically diverse backgrounds. The show is filled with fun facts and up-to-date accurate information about traffic safety and injury prevention.

Pedestrian and passenger safety are among the topics covered in the production. The puppets remind each other about safety tools they will need such as the importance of wearing seat belts and bright colored clothing when on the street so that drivers can better see them.

To enhance the traffic safety message of the puppet show, a video called "Rappin' Safety City" is shown at the end of the performance. This short educational video, prepared by the New York City Department of Transportation Safety Education Unit, brings a hip, musical perspective which reinforces the safety tools discussed in the puppet show. Educational materials are also handed out to each student.

Following the show, the audience is able to ask questions, speaking directly to the puppets. The performance takes place in the classroom and lasts approximately 45 minutes. It is not intended to be an assembly program.

Productions are performed at elementary schools for grades K - 2.

To Schedule A Performance of the Queens Safety Puppet Theatre:

Contact the Queens Borough President’s Office at 1-718-286-2800