KIDS
CORNER
With Carol Peters
CAROL PETERS is an
award-winning art
instructor who is highly
skilled at bringing
innovative, creative art
alive for both young
and old.
SOCK PUPPETS FOR TODDLERS
Ideas To Encourage Social Development
Use your puppet to ask for help.
Your puppet “I can’t find my water bottle, can you help me?”
When your child helps your puppet, your puppet praises his
helpfulness.
Find out your child’s interest.
Your puppet asks: ”What do you like to play with or do?”
If your child doesn’t answer, give examples such as play
on the swing, read books,etc. Then have your child ask your
puppet what it likes to do. This is teaching your child to
show interest in others.
The possibilities are endless and fun to create. With
puppets you can act out stories, make up fantasies, and find
solutions to pretend situations or problems. You will also
enter into your child’s thoughts, feelings and imagination.
It is magical!
Ideas For Conversational Development
Your child may not respond verbally to the other puppet
at first, but model the words for your child and give them
situations to respond to— non-verbally as well. Your puppet
can ask: ”Would you like to share your toy with my puppet?”
When your child hands your puppet the toy, connect an
emotion with the action..”I am so happy when you share!
Thank YOU!” Praise them for the puppet’s good behavior!
Ask the child to name their puppet and suggest names
if they do not come up with one easily. After the child
names their Puppet, help model a friendly social greet-
ing. For example, the parent’s puppet says: “Hi, I am Buddy
the Puppet what is your Name?” When the child’s puppet
answers, thank your child for being so friendly and continue
the conversation.
Always Give Positive Reinforcement for Good Behavior! Use Your Imagination and Have Fun!
62
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
february/march 2019
gmhtoday.com
Toddlers can make adorable Sock Puppets with very little
help from their parents. The answer is using peel and stick
supplies! This is not only a fabulous ART PROJECT, but
Puppet Play helps Preschool Children learn to develop social
and friendship skills, such as sharing, helping others, listen-
ing, cooperation and problem solving. It is also wonderful for
developing their conversational skills!