The holidays are a magical time, but they can also be overwhelming for children. Big changes, lots of people, and new impressions… It can all feel like too much, especially for kids who are easily overstimulated, struggle with emotions, or find it hard to adapt to changes. Does this sound like your child?
Meet the Chat Buddy: Your New Ally During the Holidays.What do you need? An old sock. Yes, really! With a little creativity, you can turn it into a simple hand puppet – a chat buddy that makes anything easier to talk about. What your child feels, experiences, or needs suddenly becomes much simpler to share.
Hand puppets have a unique quality: they can act as a friendly, safe third party in a conversation. They ask questions, invite action, and can even help to prevent or soften a meltdown. And no, you don’t have to become a puppeteer. The chat buddy is simply there to help you and your child navigate the holidays with understanding and calm.
But before you go searching for that old sock…Take a moment today to reflect on what your holiday plans look like.
- What will the days bring?
- Are you expecting visitors, or will you be visiting others?
- How does your child usually handle busy or unexpected situations?
- Have you told your child about the plans, and what did they say about them?
Thinking about these things now allows you to make small adjustments that can make a big difference. It might sound strange that a sock can help with this, but trust me: it works.
The sock we’re going to turn into a puppet. You can see my sock has been given eyes. Eyes are really the only thing your sock needs, because without them, you can’t make eye contact. And eye contact is so important.
So grab a marker or dive into your sewing kit and add two eyes to your sock. Done? Now it’s ready to use.
Slide the sock over your hand, placing four fingers in the toe section and your thumb in the heel. When you move your thumb and fingers toward each other, a mouth will form, with enough space to move it—perfect for making your puppet talk.
If you want to use your sock puppet, your chat buddy, to connect with your child, there are several approaches:
- You control the puppet and use it to ask questions or challenge your child.
- Your child controls the puppet, and you ask questions through the puppet.
- Both of you have puppets, allowing your child’s puppet to respond to yours.
No matter which method you choose, it’s always easier and safer for a child to respond to a puppet than to you directly. A puppet feels more like a friend—an equal. You, on the other hand, remain an adult with expectations and opinions, which can sometimes cause a child to hold back. With a puppet, this isn’t necessary. That’s why it’s important that your puppet doesn’t sound too much like you; otherwise, your child will respond just as they would to you.
Try to stay open and curious, and don’t take your child’s responses personally. React the way a friend would.
Here are some example questions:
- Are you excited about (name of holiday)?
- What are you most looking forward to? (For example: seeing grandparents, making desserts, staying up late, etc.)
- What are you less excited about? (For example: large crowds, long meals, feeling like you want some alone time, etc.)
Now, here’s where the puppet makes a difference. Imagine asking follow-up questions like these through the puppet:
- If something happens that you don’t like, what do you do? (Do you get angry, stomp, walk away, find a quiet spot, act like nothing is wrong, etc.?)
- Does that help?
- What would you like to do instead? (Would you like to sit in your room for a bit, have someone help you, be left alone, etc.?)
- How could you ask or say that?
The way you ask these questions with the puppet creates a safe, non-judgmental space where your child feels free to share their thoughts and needs. The puppet is not a parent or caregiver; it’s a friend. This helps your child express themselves more openly and even explore possible solutions.
By using the puppet, you’re not only offering your child a way to practice new scenarios but also giving yourself the chance to try different ways of responding. It’s a tool for both of you to grow.
Want to learn more? In my Puppet Power Playschool I share all kinds of practical tips and activities you and your puppet can do with your child to deepen your connection, understand your child better and make learning more fun. You can try it for only $9,- and learn some basic skills that will help you to use your puppet more easily.
And don’t forget to reach out if you have any question I might help you with.
Till the next blog!
Helen
