Here at sensational babies we absolutely adore puppets!
I first started using a puppet with Tommy when he was around 6 weeks old, peek-a-boo and tickling were just his favourite way of playing. Peek-a-boo was in fact what encouraged this first little giggle, which was just magical.
But there is so much more to puppets. Many of us grew up watching sooty and sweep, The Muppets or Punch and Judy, by watching they taught us valuable life lessons without really knowing it. Puppets can teach little ones a huge variety of key skills such as:
- Social skills little one’s form bonds with their puppets, its lovely.
- Developing motor skills; As puppets need a hand to move (quite literally!) this will encourage and help develop Motor skills and dexterity by using fingers to manipulate the puppet improves fine motor coordination.
- Encourages imagination and creativity; Puppets are amazing for allowing your child’s imagination to run wild and free, allowing your child to play using their imagination whether these are true to life stories or complete fantasy really is up to your little one. Further along the line creative, imaginative children can apply these skills to Drama, Arts, Music, Dance
- Developing Language With all the imaginative playing, this will encourage new words and longer sentences as little ones just love having conversations with their puppet
- Problem solving; Puppets allow little ones to act out through using their imaginations in a variety of scenarios to help with a real life problem they may have and a solution to this problem.