Early Years and Circle Time
Circle time is often one of the first opportunities children have each day to communicate, listen, share ideas and connect with one another. Adding a puppet can make these everyday moments more engaging and encourage gentle participation, build confidence and bring an extra sense of fun to the group.
The ideas below have been inspired by conversations with teachers and early-years professionals who use puppets in real settings.
1. Puppet Welcome
Suitable for: Ages 2–6
Time: 5 minutes
You’ll need: One hand puppet
How it works
Use the puppet to welcome children individually at the beginning of the session or school day.
The puppet might ask:
- “Good morning! What’s your name?”
- “How are you feeling today?”
- “Did anything exciting happen yesterday?”
Some children may find it easier to respond to a puppet than to an adult directly, particularly when they are still building confidence in a group setting.
Supports: speaking confidence, turn-taking, listening and social connection.
2. Weekend News
Suitable for: Preschool and early primary
You’ll need: One puppet
How it works
Let the puppet become the interviewer. Instead of the teacher asking what children did at the weekend, the puppet takes turns asking each child a simple question.
This can make sharing feel more playful and less formal, while encouraging children to practise recalling events, taking turns and speaking in front of a group.
Supports: communication, confidence, memory and sequencing.
3. Mystery Bag
Suitable for: Ages 3+
You’ll need: One puppet, a bag and a few familiar objects
How it works
Place a selection of objects inside a bag, for example a feather, shell, spoon or toy animal.
The puppet chooses one object at a time and asks the children to describe it.
You can prompt with questions such as:
- What colour is it?
- What does it feel like?
- What might we use it for?
- Can we make up a story about it?
Supports: vocabulary, observation, descriptive language and imagination.
4. Puppet Helper
Suitable for: Preschool and early primary
You’ll need: One puppet
How it works
Use the puppet to introduce everyday classroom tasks or routines.
Instead of simply saying “Time to tidy up”, the puppet might ask:
“Can somebody help me find all the red blocks?”
Small changes like this can make routine activities feel more playful and engaging.
Supports: cooperation, listening and participation.
5. Feelings Check-In
Suitable for: Ages 3+
You’ll need: One puppet and, if helpful, feelings cards
How it works
The puppet asks each child how they are feeling that day.
Children can answer verbally, point to a feelings card or simply choose not to answer.
The puppet can also model different feelings by saying something like:
“I’m feeling a little nervous today because I’m trying something new.”
This gives children opportunities to hear and use emotional language in a relaxed way.
Supports: emotional literacy, self-expression and communication.
6. Goodbye Puppet
Suitable for: Early-years settings
You’ll need: One familiar puppet
How it works
Use the same puppet to finish each session or day.
The puppet might sing a short goodbye song, wave to each child or ask one final question before everyone leaves.
Repeating the same ending can help create a familiar and predictable routine.
Supports: transitions, routine and social connection.
More Ideas Coming Soon
This page will continue to grow as I gather more practical ideas from teachers, early-years professionals and others who use puppets in their work.
If you have a favourite circle time or early-years puppet activity you’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you.