"Chug chug chug goes the train, who wants to go on vacation?..."
You can crochet a lovely nostalgic train here using colorful cotton yarn: great fun for the little ones who can’t yet play with an electric train, and a wonderful decorative piece for all train fans! The locomotive and cars are reinforced inside with thick felt. The cars are open so little dolls can ride along. The individual cars are coupled together with hook-and-loop fasteners.
Here is the crochet pattern for the train!

Crocheted hand puppets are suitable even for younger children, because they are much lighter and sturdier than puppets with wooden heads. Plus, they can be washed easily if they are ever "forgotten" in the garden or sandbox. With handmade hand puppets, you can let your imagination run free and add your own ideas.
In the picture above you can see a value set consisting of 6 basic characters that appear in almost every Punch and Judy show: Punch, Grandmother, Seppel, Gretel, Robber, and Crocodile. Here you save over 33% compared to buying them individually!
Here is the crochet pattern for the Punch and Judy puppet value set!
You can find more patterns for hand puppets here!

And for the very little ones, you can crochet a set of cute finger puppets for a Punch and Judy theater from small bits of leftover yarn. Children who are just starting daycare can hold them more easily than the larger hand puppets. Here you have a pattern for figures for a 10-finger puppet theater: Punch. Seppel, Gretel, Grandmother, Crocodile, and Robber, plus: Policeman, Witch, King, and Princess.
Here is the crochet pattern for the 10 finger puppets!
More finger puppets are available here!