Using Puppetry in the Early Years Education

When children look at a puppet, they see something that is alive! They see something magical!

Puppets are a great way to engage and capture the attention of children of all ages.  This can be in both large and small group settings, as well as one on one.

Bring Your Puppet to Life

• Firstly, it is important for you to choose a puppet that is comfortable for you to use. Puppets with big mouths are best!
• Practice making the puppet’s mouth move just as yours would. You can do this by saying each letter of the alphabet first. Then move onto words with lots of syllables. Don’t feel silly practicing wherever you can. Organise for your puppet to have a conversation with your partner, friend, or children. You can also practice in front of the mirror.
• Make it breathe, nod and show expressions.
• Try to make the puppet look at who it is talking to. This is harder than it sounds.
• You can just sit patting or cuddling the puppet when you want the children focused on you.

Create some Magic!

• Try to keep the magic of the puppet, try to never just plop it onto your hand in front of the children. Instead, have it inside its sleeping bag and place it on your hand inside the bag to take it out.
• When I teach students in preps to year 2 in our Introduction to Wild Primary School Wellbeing Program, or the preschool program Ready, Set, School!  I always have a huge reaction of pure joy from the children when I bring Seal out of her sleeping bag. The children adore Seal, and I have had so many children ask me if she is real.
• When you refer to the puppet, call it by its name or call it your friend.
• Give your puppet a personality. Choose if it will be shy, confident, or even a bit cheeky!
• Give your puppet a voice. It could be your own voice, but I like to give the puppet it’s own voice. Make sure you choose a voice that you can maintain long term. A gruff voice is going to hurt your throat long term.
• You don’t need to be a ventriloquist because the children will be focused on the puppet, not specifically on you.
• You can also mix it up and use surprising voices. For example, a crocodile with a sweet voice or a mouse with a tough voice.
• You can also choose a character that doesn’t have a voice who whispers in your ear, and you are the communicator for the children.

During our Habitat Helpers workshop, some of the children get to use a puppet in the story. I always demonstrate the shark puppet and give it a funny voice to eliminate any fear associated with sharks. I will also talk about how all the animals in the story are very gentle and they never bite or hurt anyone. This sets up the expectation of the children to be gentle and respectful with their puppet.

Now it’s the Children’s Turn!

• When children use puppets, it sparks their imagination and creativity. The puppet could be the child’s new best friend. But not all children instinctively know how to use a puppet. It is important to show the children how to use the puppets correctly, and more importantly, safely.
• Many children put a puppet on their hand and automatically begin biting everything in sight with it, or they begin hitting with it. Teaching the correct way to use the puppet helps to eliminate this.
• Explain to the child that the puppet is their friend. Teach them that they must work together. Together they are a super team!
• Teach them to be gentle, as though they were holding a real animal.

By using puppets, you will open a world of imagination. I absolutely love the magic that I can bring to a child by using puppets. It is just wonderful to see their faces light up over my puppetry skills!

By Amy Roe, Drama Teacher