By Cara Zelas  |  Big World of Little Dude

Benefits of Using Puppets in the Classroom

Puppets can be an engaging and useful way to help students develop emotionally and grow their language and communication skills. Here's what the research says and how to use them in your classroom or at home.

What Does the Research Say About Puppets?

Puppets allow children to engage in imaginative play that differs from dolls and other figures. Children have the opportunity to bring puppets to life in a unique way. While using puppets, children are able to project their own emotions onto the puppet. Research suggests that children view puppets more like a peer than an adult, so their interactions with puppets match that feeling. This makes children more likely to explain their ideas and answers to a puppet than to the adult operating the puppet.

Research shows that using puppets in education has many benefits, especially with language skills. Children can practice their oral speaking skills by telling a story to a puppet or explaining words or expressions. A 2015 study investigated the learning impact of puppets in a kindergarten classroom. Their findings showed a tremendous impact of puppet use on a child's education. The puppet helped to motivate students and involve them in the learning process, it created an emotional relationship with students and added a playful mood to the learning environment (Ronit, 2015).

Benefits in Early Childhood and Preschool Classrooms

• Puppets are a good tool to get young children's attention.
• Puppets help students act out everyday scenarios.
• Puppets, especially finger puppets, allow little ones to transform into anything they want.
• Puppets are a good visual representation to use when singing, dancing, or storytelling.

Benefits in Kindergarten and Primary Classrooms

• Puppets are a good way to deliver information to students and help them retain it.
• Student use of puppets helps them to retell information they've learned and remember it.
• Teachers can use puppets to demonstrate proper pronunciation to help students develop language skills.
• Puppets can help shy students feel comfortable speaking in front of the class because the puppet is answering, not them (Belfiore, 2016).

How to Incorporate Puppets Into Your Classroom or Home

Check for Understanding

Once you've covered a topic, you can have students explain it to the puppet. Or, your puppet might be "confused" and the students can answer his questions.

Develop Literacy Skills

Students can read to the puppet or they can read as the puppet. Both ways help students practice their literacy skills.

Build Oral Speaking Skills

This is especially helpful for shy or timid students who may be nervous to speak during class. Have students explain a concept or give an answer through the use of a puppet.

Set Behavior Expectations

Have puppets act out scenarios and then let students discuss and decide how they would respond. Create scenarios with your puppets to teach classroom rules and procedures.

Facilitate Conflict Resolution

This is a great way to help students act out their feelings and resolve their problems. It's also a great lesson in empathy.

Imaginative Play

Let students create their own scenarios and stories using their puppets. There are endless ways to use puppets in the classroom or at home!

Little ones need ways to express their emotions, and puppets provide a gentle, playful way for children to participate in class. They are wonderful for rainy days and hands-on activities too.

References

Belfiore, C. (2016). Puppets talk, children listen. Retrieved from teachmag.com/archives/5618.

Ronit, R., & Tzuriel, D. (2015). I teach better with the puppet: use of puppet as a mediating tool in kindergarten education. American Journal of Educational Research, 3(3), 356-365.