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From the Publisher
The puppet helps to make new experiences
Brad is 6 years old. He is very fond of puppets and would like it very much to take them home. It is wonderful to see him play. He invents complete scenes. He uses all kinds of voices for each and every puppet. He even tries to teach the puppet new things. When he succeeds, it was his idea. When it fails, the puppet was to blame.
CHAPTER 7. CONVERSATION STARTING THROUGH THE HAND PUPPET - some examples
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Chitchat about the beach"Have you ever been to the beach? By the sea with the waves? I have, sometimes we go there to walk, but when it's summer, and nice and warm, you can also swim in the sea. I can't swim, but I like the beach, to make a sandcastle, or look for shells, or play with a beach ball. I don’t like to swim in the sea, but I like to walk through it with my water shoes, just a little splashing with water and such, I also like. When it's summer, we don't have to go to school for a long time, and sometimes we go on vacation in the caravan. And you, what do you like to do when the sun is shining?" |
Chitchat about our dog"Look, this is my dog, Trixi. She is enormous, black with a little white, and she is a delighted dog. Yeah, when she sees me she always starts wagging her tail, and then she wants to play with me, you know that? And she is very strong, much too strong for me, so I am not allowed to walk with her because she pulls me down like that. Trixi can run well, she is fast and can swim very well, she likes that. And she snores when she sleeps...very loudly. Do you know that? What about you? Do you have an animal too?" |
Chitchat about favorite cuddly toys"I have a favorite stuffed toy, a rabbit. I have had it for a long time, and it is my best friend. I have more cuddly toys, but this one is the best, I don't know why, but it just is. When I sleep he is there, when I have to go to the doctor he is there, when I stay over he goes with me and when I go on camp with the scouts he also goes with me. My friend thought that was stupid and said it was childish, but I don't think it's weird at all, I just like it when rabbit is there, and then I can sleep better, it's as if I'm just at home in my bed and rabbit is looking after me anyway. Pretty smart of me, right? Do you have a cuddly toy like that?" |
Chapter 5: BASIC ATTITUDE
Three relations in working with a hand puppet
Just bringing the puppet to life doesn't make it an educational tool. More is needed. In addition to basic skills, there is also a basic attitude and that basic attitude is about seeing, feeling, thinking and acting in relation to the child(ren) and the hand puppet you work with. I'll explain.
When a hand puppet comes along, there is a relationship between you and the child, you and the puppet and between the child and the puppet. I won't elaborate on the relationship between you and the child here, it does play a role, but I don't want to interfere in that relationship. The only thing I can say is that it is possible that the relationship between you and the child will change positively through the use of the hand puppet. The hand puppet will enable you to get a better understanding of the world experience, thinking, feeling and acting of the child, and also of yourself.
By adding the hand puppet, a “communication triangle" will be created. The dialogue will not only take place between you and the child, but the child can also choose to focus on the puppet and exclude you. You can also add elements by starting a conversation with the puppet and letting the child be a listener.
While working with the hand puppet as an educational tool, you will become more and more aware that you can have a conversation with a child from your own role as well as from the puppet. The more experience you gain with the hand puppet, the more you can use it consciously and play with it. These experiences are not only enriching for the child, by letting the puppet open up you will also discover a lot about yourself. The puppet often reflects your own behavior, your own thinking and your own actions. I experience that as a gift because by seeing myself again, I can improve myself and that ultimately makes me a better educator. So don't be afraid of it, but embrace it as a pleasant side effect of that wonderful tool.
1.2. WHAT CAN A HAND PUPPET MEAN TO CHILDREN?
Harvey is new in class. When he came to meet and introduce himself, I had my face painted, because it was carnival. He was so startled that he broke down in tears. Luckily (for me) Splash was around and where I did not succeed, Splash did. Harvey got interested, looked up and started to smile and dried his tears. Now he is already two weeks at school and feels quite at home. He explores the class and his classmates with Splash: that is safer and very comfortable.
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