As an infant grows into a toddler, he not only learns to walk, but also learns the elements of communication, such as listening, speaking, and observing. As a child grows, he gets more and more exposed to words and sentences, and then he becomes able to say some words and construct some sentences.
It is an exciting and wonderful time for children to learn about their world and share their discoveries. It can also be a time of anxiety, if a child is not showing the communication signs the parent expects them to at a particular age.
The question is, how can parents help their children communicate? The answer, according to Olivia Karaolis, may be found in puppets.
In 2019 as part of my yet unpublished research (that draws on previous work in the United States), I went to three different preschools to work with three to four year olds using puppets. I observed all the children — including kids with a disability, those learning English as an additional language or those who are very shy — communicated more often and more effectively when talking to a puppet.
Research with school-aged children shows puppets, like a favourite doll or teddy bear, can encourage learning and improve communication and behaviour. Talking to a puppet, as opposed to a person, makes the conversation feel less personal and more pretend. It is a play-based technique sometimes used in therapy to help the child feel less self-conscious, and open up.
Learn more on how puppets can help improve communication in children over at The Conversation.
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(Image Credit: Pezibear/ Pixabay)