The Method-Based Puppet—Is It Really Effective?

The method-based puppet—honestly, it’s not my favorite. Both the execution and the idea often miss the mark for me.

Are You Missing Out on the Puppet’s Real Power?

What stands out most about the method-based puppet is that its full potential remains untapped. Puppets can be a powerhouse for encouraging children to share their thoughts, lowering participation barriers, and even uncovering what truly concerns them. So, why settle for less?

Sure, I understand why puppets are incorporated into teaching methods: kids feel more comfortable talking to a puppet. But does this setup really give children the freedom they need to express themselves?

A Puppet’s True Value: Providing Space to Be and Discover

The real added value of a puppet is the space it provides for children to explore and practice being themselves. With the puppet, children should feel free to experiment, without any pressure to be “correct” or to fit a prescribed outcome. It’s about opening up possibilities, not controlling them.

In practice, though, a method-based puppet often falls short of creating this kind of space. Instead, it tends to become a second educator, focused more on directing the child than engaging with them.

Are You Really Letting Children Lead?

Let’s look at a typical example of method-based puppet play. I found a script on an educational website and used it in the first video below. Watch and ask yourself: who’s really leading here, the child or the adult?

Often, in this setup, the puppet ends up as a sidekick to the adult, with the adult controlling most of the interaction. The child becomes a passive participant, only stepping in when prompted.

There’s also a common pattern of the puppet “messing up” and needing help from the children. While it’s fine for the puppet to ask for help, we need to avoid adding labels like “silly Piri” or “naughty Piri,” which add judgment and can shift the focus away from what the child thinks or feels.

What if You Shift the Focus to the Child?

If your goal is to teach a specific behavior, a tightly controlled outcome might make sense. But if you’re looking to understand why a child might struggle in a particular area, you’ll gain so much more by allowing them to lead the conversation. Here are some ways to let the child’s voice take center stage with the puppet as their companion:

1. Encourage Child-Led Conversations

Let the child guide the dialogue with the puppet. Rather than dictating the conversation, encourage them to ask questions and share thoughts freely. This shifts the puppet’s role from “answer provider” to “conversation starter.”

2. Try Role Reversal

Use the puppet as a stand-in for the child, instead of you as the educator. Have the puppet show curiosity about the child’s world and ask open-ended questions like, “What do you love most about playing with blocks?” This helps children articulate their thoughts and feelings without any leading responses.

3. Co-Create Stories

Work with the child to build stories with the puppet. Begin with a simple scenario and let the child direct the plot, introduce characters, or decide outcomes. This collaborative process can spark their creativity and give them a safe platform to share their ideas.

4. Practice Reflective Listening

When the child shares a thought, have the puppet mirror it back, such as, “It sounds like you felt really proud when you solved that puzzle!” Reflective listening helps children feel heard and encourages them to keep sharing.

5. Explore Diverse Emotions Together

Use the puppet to explore a range of emotions. The puppet might say, “I felt nervous about something today—what about you?” This approach helps children explore their feelings and build emotional vocabulary.

6. Engage in Interactive Play

Create activities where the puppet and the child work together, like building something or solving a puzzle. Through this interactive play, the child learns to communicate and cooperate, with both of you contributing ideas and facing challenges together.

Watch the Difference: Which Puppet Invites More Participation?

In the second video, I demonstrate an alternative approach using the same script but a different style of engagement. Watch both videos and consider: which puppet seems to offer the child more space to express themselves? Is it the one in the first video or the second?

I’d Love to Hear from You!

Which approach do you feel gives the child the most freedom and opportunity for genuine participation? Leave a comment with your thoughts!

This is the first blog in a three-part series on puppets in education. I hope to see you back here for the next one!

Helen

Author

Helen Meurs is a pioneer in expressive arts and education, specializing in the transformative use of hand puppets to enhance communication, social-emotional growth, and language development in children. With over 30 years in this field, 15 years as a owner of the largest hand puppet webshop in the Netherlands, Helen now equips educators, (grand)parents, and professionals worldwide through online courses, coaching, and the accessible Puppet Power Playschool, empowering them to use puppets confidently as engaging educational tools. Helen also founded the Vocational Training for Certified Hand Puppet Coaches for educators and continues to expand her global reach, bringing the unique impact of puppetry to learning environments worldwide.