5 FEELINGS HAND PUPPETS

Emotions Hand Puppets – Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Resource Kit (Set of 5)

Support children in understanding, expressing, and managing their feelings with this thoughtfully designed Emotions Hand Puppets Set. Created for early years classrooms and home learning environments, these soft, expressive puppets make abstract emotions concrete, relatable, and easy to discuss.

This set typically includes five core emotions: Happy, Sad, Angry, Worried, and Surprised — represented through distinct colours and clear facial expressions to strengthen emotional recognition and vocabulary.

Why Emotions Puppets Matter

Young children often feel deeply but lack the language to communicate those feelings. These puppets act as emotional mediators — helping children externalize emotions safely, build empathy, and practice regulation strategies through play.

They transform emotional learning from a lecture into an interactive experience.

How Teachers Can Use Them (Classroom SEL Integration)

1. Circle Time Emotional Check-Ins

Each morning, children choose a puppet that represents how they feel.

• Builds emotional vocabulary

• Encourages self-awareness

• Normalizes diverse feelings

2. Conflict Resolution Role Play

Teachers use puppets to act out common classroom scenarios (sharing toys, waiting for turns, feeling left out).

• Teaches perspective-taking

• Models problem-solving language

• Reduces reactive behaviour

3. Storytelling & Narrative Building

Create stories where puppets face emotional challenges and demonstrate coping strategies.

• Deepens comprehension

• Connects literacy with emotional development

• Encourages reflective thinking

4. Calm Corner Companion

Place puppets in the “peace corner” or regulation space. Children can talk to or use them while calming down.

• Supports self-regulation

• Encourages independent emotional processing

How Parents Can Use Them (Home SEL Practice)

1. Bedtime Reflection Ritual

Ask: “Which puppet felt like you today?”

• Builds emotional awareness

• Strengthens parent-child communication

2. Modeling Healthy Expression

Parents can demonstrate how to express frustration or worry appropriately through puppet role play.

• Reduces emotional suppression

• Encourages safe communication

3. Transition Support

Use puppets during transitions (new school, sibling arrival, travel).

• Helps children process uncertainty

• Creates emotional safety

How Children Benefit Directly

• Develop emotional vocabulary

• Build empathy and social awareness

• Practice self-regulation strategies

• Improve communication skills

• Gain confidence in expressing feelings

The puppets allow children to project emotions onto a character — making difficult conversations less intimidating and more manageable.

Alignment with NEP 2020 & NCF (Foundational Stage)

This resource strongly aligns with the principles of:

NEP 2020 (National Education Policy)

• Emphasis on holistic development (cognitive + emotional + social growth)

• Play-based, activity-based learning approach

• Focus on well-being and socio-emotional competencies

NCF – Foundational Stage (3–8 years)

• Supports the domain of Socio-Emotional and Ethical Development

• Encourages expression of feelings and empathy

• Promotes experiential and interactive learning

• Enables child-centric, discussion-based pedagogy

By integrating emotions through play, this puppet set supports competency-based learning rather than rote instruction — fully aligned with contemporary early childhood frameworks.

Product Features

• Soft, child-safe plush material

• Clear and exaggerated facial expressions for emotional clarity

• Lightweight and easy for small hands to use

• Durable for classroom and therapy settings

• Suitable for ages 3+

Ideal For

• Preschools & Foundational Stage classrooms

• School counsellors

• Special educators

• Parent-child bonding sessions

• SEL workshops & teacher training programs

Emotions Hand Puppets are not just toys — they are tools for building emotionally intelligent, resilient, and empathetic children.