Developing
practitioner skills in
using puppets
effectively
The POWER of PUPPETS
A training topic linked to the Inclusion Development Programme (Early Years) Supporting children with
speech, language and communication needs (2008)
An Essex Area SENCO workshop
Aims of workshop
• To review the benefits of using different types of puppets with pre-school children
• To consider appropriate opportunities to use puppets effectively in the early years setting
• To practise techniques that bring puppets ‘to life’
Using puppets in the pre-school
In what activity?
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For what reason?
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Using different types of puppets
Often Sometimes Never
Finger puppets
Hand puppets
Large puppets
The benefits of using puppets
Puppets …
• … appeal to children’s playful nature
• … encourage children to become more
vocal and interactive
• … create a pressure-free space for the
voice of a child
Do you as a practitioner …
… know the difference between children who are shy or reserved and those who have
speech, language and communication needs?
IDP: A Unique Child (page 21)
Puppets across the curriculum Communication, Language & Literacy
Provide stories, pictures and puppets
which allow children to experience
and talk about how characters feel.
Reading 22-36m
Use puppets and other props to
encourage listening and responding
when singing a familiar song or
reading from a story book
Linking sounds and letters 22-36m
Introduce, alongside books, story
props, such as pictures, puppets
and objects, to retell stories and to
think about how the characters feel
Language for Communication 30-50m
Creative Development
Have a range of puppets that can
glide along the table, or dance
around on the end of a fist in time to
some lively music.
Creating Music and Dance 8-20m
Personal, Social & Emotional
Development
Plan circle times when children can
have an opportunity to talk about
their feelings and support them by
providing props, such as a sad
puppet, that can be used to show
how they feel.
Self-confidence and Self- esteem 40-60+ m
Using finger puppets
What can you do with it?
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What can you convey?
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Using hand puppets
Puppet posture:
• When using a stage (eg your
other hand), watch your puppet’s
height – if it’s talking to you, keep
it at your eye level
• Find the most natural position for
your puppet to stand so it looks
straight ahead
• Keep your puppet awake – make
slight gestures, maintain good
posture
Holding and moving techniques
Fingers = puppet’s jaw
Wrist = puppet’s neck
Elbow and shoulder = puppet’s movement
Lip synchronisation:
Coordinate your hand and lip movements to make the
puppet ‘speak’ convincingly
Meet our ‘hide and seek’ puppets
Anticipation
Surprise
• Use as a ‘delivery’ agent
– Introduce a small prop to
the children
Bringing the puppet to life
• Coming out of the box – Make sure the children see it animated at the start
and return to its home still ‘alive’
• Make the puppet’s movement appropriate to its character – Movement, action and the use of props are more
effective than words
– Don’t overdo it – save large movements or noise until you need dramatic effect
• Eye contact – Make the puppet look from one child to another to
follow their conversation
Large puppets
Establish a puppet that only the
practitioner has access to:
• Reinforce rules and routines
– correcting the puppet not the child
• Weekly ‘visitor’
– Tell his news
– Introduce a range of topics and bring
in things of interest
• Deal with sensitive issues
– project onto puppet not the child
Story telling puppets
Type of puppet may suggest
story theme
– Realistic
– Mythical
– Magical
The puppet could …
• enrich the story telling
experience by making
reactions at key moments in
the story
• present a series of props
linked to the story by taking
them out of a box at
appropriate times
• help turn the pages of the
story book
• invite children to tell their
own story
Establish the puppet’s identity
Puppet passport • Photos in real-life situations
• Build up a library of pictures for each puppet
• Create situations For example: ‘holiday’
– Travel kit
– Post cards
– Holiday diary
Puppet Passport
My name is: Rod My age: 4 1/4
Where I live:
In a flat
I live with:
My mum
My best friends are:
Tony and Liam
My favourite food is:
McDonalds
I am happy when I am:
Playing with Tony and Liam
I get sad when:
Mum goes to work
I am afraid of:
Dogs
My favourite toy is:
Spiderman
Puppets express emotion … Head movements
Mouth movements add to the expression … so do arm movements and body language
I’m worried I make quick glances back and forth
I’m surprised I do double takes back and forth
I’m trying to ignore you
I avoid eye contact (eg if you ask me something using my name I look away or at the ceiling)
I’m angry and rejected I hold my head still and fix my eyes in the opposite direction
I’m embarrassed or my feelings are hurt
I turn my head away, make slow glances back to you, then away again
I’m sad My head is dropped
I’m fed up or sleepy I make slow head movements
I’m being stubborn I hold my head up
I’m angry or confused I put my head to one side
Meet our family of ‘living’ puppets
Maggy
Puppets allow for full movement of the mouth/tongue and
plenty of head movement. Mouth and one hand/arm
can be used together, or both hands/arms (eg for
picking things up or gesture/signing.
Captain Jack
Steven
Roger
Oscar