Sesame Street character Elmo paid a virtual visit to X recently with a post that said “Elmo is just checking in. How is everybody doing?” The fact that Elmo is 43 years “old” means he has been entertaining and inspiring Americans for almost two generations. Thousands of people responded to him, though relatively few responses came from children. The respondents were clearly worn out, anxious, fearful and outright “down” in their prospects for a better life. Many families are stressed financially at the moment, others are tied up in knots over politics and partisan bickering. And if that isn’t bad enough, many people are concerned that war is on the horizon.

Children reflect parental anxiety over difficult family dynamics, food or housing scarcity and other causes of stress. Unlike adults, however, they do not have the ego resources to deal with this stress. Often, children deny these feeling or do not express them because of fear, guilt, or problems in communicating their feelings in general. At least, communicating to older adults. Children, however, are much more candid to pets–and puppets. Many have imaginary friends.

Puppets and puppet play can be used with small children to encourage conversation. According to an article in The Conversation:

Think about the animals, characters, colours or creatures your child likes before choosing a puppet to add to your family. You can even make a simple puppet with an old sock.

Once you have your puppet, introduce it thoughtfully to your child. For example, you may pat it softly and have your child touch it with you. Ask your child to help you discover the sounds the puppet makes, its name and what it likes to play.”

You can ad lib as needed. For example, asking your child how [name of puppet] feels that day? Then ask why? The child might say the puppet is sad because she misses daddy or because Nana is sick. With small children, I think it is probably best to synchronize the gender of the puppet to match that of your child.

Puppets can also help children answer questions. We’ve all seen children hesitate in an answer because they are not sure what to say.

Puppets (muppets) are excellent tools to use with small children, in general or in difficult situations as they try to express their feelings. For example, child psychologists have used puppets in court to get pre-school children to testify in cases involving physical or sexual abuse. Usually this does not happen in open court, but in a adjoining room where the child feels safe. Testimony is then beamed into the courtroom for the benefit of the jury and defense. If your child seems unsettled, ask him or her how their puppet feels (and why.) Be sure to keep the conversation at an age-appropriate level. Also, be sure not to “lead” the child into saying what you as the parent wish to hear.

Family psycho-therapists who understand the usefulness of these toys will have an assortment of puppets from which the child may choose. Allowing a child to pick out a puppet to just handle casually while answering routine questions will put the child’s mind at ease. Ultimately:

Children will project their feelings and thoughts onto the play therapy  puppets. They feel safe using a play therapy puppet to express themselves. If you are working with children you need to have several play therapy puppets in your office.

These play therapy puppets need to range from friendly to frightening. You need to have a few fairy tale puppets, animal puppets, and some predator puppets. It is always good to have a shark, dragon, or dinosaur with teeth available when using play therapy puppets.

In addition to a few ready made play therapy puppets children like to make their own play therapy puppets. The puppets the child chooses to make will give you a lot of information about what is going on within the child’s inner world.

Having “mean” or predator puppets allows the child to switch puppets depending on the circumstances and what the child is trying to communicate or reenact. Puppets need not be sophisticated or expensive. Simple finger puppets that fit the end of the child’s finger are often adequate. Making puppets out of old soxs cam work equally well.

Puppets are popular with children because they are nonjudgmental. The child feels comfortable and on their own terms with a puppet.

A puppet can also serve as a sort of muse to a child, allowing the child ideation formation and integrating himself or herself into the greater scheme of things. Parents can learn much more about how their child views gthe world and perceives threats and opportunities when using puppets. And, puppets are also a healthy activity for children as they stretch their imaginations and deal with life on their own terms.

Other uses of puppets in the lives of small children can be found here.

Feature photo: First lady Michelle Obama listens to PBS Sesame Street’s character Elmo during an event to help promote fresh fruit and vegetable consumption in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013. Sesame Workshop and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) joined in Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) in announcing a 2-year agreement to making healthy choices by using the Sesame Street characters to help deliver the messages about fresh fruits and vegetables. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)