Puppetry Practice!

                This Tuesday in class, we had Dr. Navar come in and talk to us about The Kids Next Door puppets and performances. She brought a few of the puppets and showed us a video that is for people to watch and learn from when training to be a puppeteer for the company. We all passed the puppets around and took turns trying the different techniques such as lip synch when they talk, gestures and posture.

                After the video and presentation, we discussed the act of puppetry and its possible advantages and disadvantages in Therapeutic Recreation. We talked about how some people find puppets just creepy and would not want to work with them! Also, they are not appropriate for all age groups because some may find them dumb and childish and not gain anything from their use. They can be appropriate for certain audiences such as younger children in elementary or early middle school. They are old enough so they don’t get distracted and lose interest quick, yet young enough to enjoy and engage in the imaginative play.  Puppets can be used both to help children express themselves and their emotions if they are the controller, and also help them open up if they are talking to the puppet. Sometimes it’s easier to and engage with the puppet because they feel it is a younger friend who will listen and understand as opposed to an adult worker who may be intimidating.

                We also discussed different types of puppets and how they can be used for different purposes. Sock puppets, finger puppets, and the puppets used in The Kids Next Door are good for children. They can be used for showing awareness about certain subjects, imaginative play, or allowing a child to open up and share their thoughts or feelings. Shadow puppet performances or creating your own symbolic puppet can be used for older children, such as adolescents, because it allows them to express themselves while creating the puppet and portray or explain an identity they may be feeling or dealing with.

In conclusion, puppetry can be an effective tool in Therapeutic Recreation, but also may have limits. Certain age groups and activities may work more effectively with puppetry and other may not. Using puppets can, however, be a beneficial activity to encourage the imagination and inspire others to engage in activities and open up!