Language and Communication
Puppets can provide a playful reason to talk. A child might describe something to a puppet, teach it a new word, answer its questions or speak through the puppet rather than being asked to speak directly themselves.
The activities below offer simple ways to use puppets to encourage vocabulary, conversation, listening and confident communication in early-years and classroom settings. They can easily be adapted to suit different ages, abilities and languages.
1. Teach the Puppet a New Word
Suitable for: Ages 3+
You’ll need: One puppet
How it works
Introduce a new word and explain that the puppet does not know what it means.
Ask the children to help teach the puppet by explaining the word, showing it an example or using it in a sentence.
The puppet can deliberately misunderstand occasionally, giving children another opportunity to explain.
Supports: vocabulary, understanding, explanation and speaking confidence.
2. Puppet Questions
Suitable for: Preschool and primary
You’ll need: One puppet
How it works
Let the puppet ask simple questions based on the children's age and interests.
For example:
- What is your favourite animal?
- What did you have for breakfast?
- What makes you laugh?
- Where would you go on an adventure?
Children can answer with a word, a sentence or a longer story. There is no pressure for everyone to respond in the same way.
Supports: conversation, listening, turn-taking and expressive language.
3. Describe It to the Puppet
Suitable for: Ages 3+
You’ll need: One puppet and a familiar object or picture
How it works
Show the children an object that the puppet cannot see.
The children have to describe it without saying its name so that the puppet can guess what it is.
Encourage descriptions of:
- Colour
- Shape
- Size
- Texture
- What it is used for
Supports: descriptive vocabulary, observation, listening and communication.
4. Finish My Sentence
Suitable for: Preschool and early primary
You’ll need: One puppet
How it works
The puppet begins a sentence and asks the children to finish it.
For example:
- “Today I feel...”
- “If I could fly...”
- “My favourite food is...”
- “The funniest thing I know is...”
There can be as many different answers as there are children.
Supports: sentence building, vocabulary, imagination and self-expression.
5. Puppet Telephone
Suitable for: Ages 4+
You’ll need: One puppet
How it works
The puppet whispers a short message to one child, who passes it quietly to the next person in the group.
When the message reaches the final child, compare it with what the puppet originally said.
Keep the messages short and fun, particularly with younger children.
Supports: careful listening, memory and attention to language.
6. Help the Puppet Explain
Suitable for: Early primary
You’ll need: One puppet
How it works
The puppet needs help completing an everyday task but does not know what to do.
Ask the children to explain the steps.
For example:
- How do I wash my hands?
- How do I make a sandwich?
- How do I plant a seed?
- How do I get ready for school?
Supports: sequencing, vocabulary, clear instructions and expressive language.
Using Puppets for Different Languages
Many of these activities can also be adapted for learning another language. A puppet can introduce vocabulary, deliberately forget a word, ask simple questions or encourage children to practise familiar phrases in a playful setting.
This can work particularly well when children are developing confidence using Irish or another language, as the focus becomes communicating with the puppet rather than simply getting an answer right.
More Language Ideas Coming Soon
This page will continue to grow as I gather more practical ways teachers, early-years professionals and others use puppets to encourage language and communication.
If you have an activity that works particularly well in your own setting, I’d love to hear about it.