Sock Puppet Play
Here's What To Do
1
Give your child an old sock and color markers to create a sock puppet.
2
Show your child how the sock will turn into a puppet. Show them where the eyes should go, and where the mouth is (the part of the sock that touches their palm is the inside of the mouth). (Optional: you can glue yarn or ribbons for hair, buttons or pom poms for eyes, etc.).
3
While your child is working, create your own sock puppet alongside them.
4
Put the sock puppets on your hands and perform a funny play together.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Put two socks on your hands and pretend they are people doing a deep, relaxing breath in and out.
E
Engage:
- "Let me show you how a sock will turn into a puppet!" With the sock puppet on your hand, open and close your hand to model dialogue.
- Ask your child, “Will your sock puppet be a person, animal, or something else? Who would be a good character to make up a story about?"
E
Encourage:
- If your child's not sure how to act out a play with their puppet, act out something they are very familiar with (a bedtime routine, school, etc.).
- If you're feeling shy about acting, remember that you don't need to put on a show. All your child needs is a character to have a conversation with.
R
Reflect:
- Ask your child, “what other materials could we make for our sock puppets?"
Not quite ready?
Work on creating one puppet together before your child creates one on their own.
Ready for more?
Ask your child to make props for the puppets or a puppet theatre out of blankets or cardboard.
As your child masters this skill...
They will use puppets for complex imaginative play.