Child care providers can also use puppet shows to introduce new concepts to children. Puppet Shows: Children can use puppets to put on their own puppet shows for other students or their child care providers.

Creative Art: Puppets can paint with children or introduce a new craft to the children.Puppets can also read children their favorite books.

Children who are not reading yet can make up stories to tell the puppet, or “read” to them by telling a familiar story using the illustrations in the storybook. Reading: Children can practice reading their favorite books to puppets, especially if they’re too shy to read in front of teachers or other children.Games: Puppets can lead games with children, such as “Simon Says” and “I-Spy.” Puppets can also participate in the game, either as a positive role model or as an example of misbehavior that the children can help correct.For example, Wanda the Chef might come out of her kitchen to let the children know it’s time to clean up for snack/lunch. Transitions: Puppets are a great tool for telling children what activity is coming next.Dramatic play: Children can use puppets to act out their own scenarios and stories.Here are a few common places where puppets can enhance young children’s play and learning:

Puppets can be used across many different parts of the early childhood curriculum.

Promoting dramatic play: Puppets can be easy-to-manipulate characters in a variety of dramatic play themes and stories.

Capturing attention: A puppet can be a good tool to capture the attention of young children in large-group and small-group settings, especially if the adult gives the puppet an engaging “personality.”.

Encouraging creativity: Children can use puppets to come up with stories, scenarios, and creative ways to solve problems.

Guidance: Children can learn appropriate behaviors by watching the puppet’s example, or the puppet can introduce and explain class rules.

Motor skills: Manipulating puppets can be a positive way to encourage movement and to practice gross and fine motor control.

Music appreciation: Puppets can make music and creative movement more interesting and can teach children the words and movements to new songs.

Confidence in reading and speaking: Children who are reluctant to speak or read out loud may be more willing to talk or read to a puppet.

Emotional development: Puppets can support children emotionally by giving them a “friend” to talk to, or a way to talk to other children without having to speak directly.

Children can also practice these skills by using puppets to interact with other children.

Social skills: Puppets can increase children’s communication and social skills by providing structured opportunities to interact with the puppets.

Benefits of using puppets in child care include the following:

Using puppets in the child care curriculum is an enjoyable way to promote children’s learning of new skills and concepts. Puppets are a great way to engage the attention and imagination of children of all ages. Benefits of Using Puppets in a Child Care Setting Children of all ages can enjoy using puppets in child care. Child care providers can use puppets, whether they are purchased at the store or homemade, to enhance almost any area of the child care curriculum. Puppets provide a wide range of benefits for children in a child care setting.

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