Often with the help of a puppet, children can express their feelings and fears, and then their concerns can be more manageable....and children can feel stronger inside.

Materials:

• Sock
• Scrap craft materials (buttons, fabric, yarn, etc.)
• Non-toxic glue

Directions:

Slip a sock over your child's hand, with knuckles in the heel. Make a mouth by tucking the toe end between your fingers and thumb. Sew or glue on scrap materials to make eyes, nose, and hair. Be sure to let the glue dry before your child uses the puppet.

Books, too, can help with children's fears. Your child may be able to hear about something scary if it's in a book and if you're nearby.

Here are some suggestions to help children get comfortable with puppet play:

• Start by talking about the puppet -- what it is, what it's made of, how it feels, what kind of puppet it might be.

• Slip the puppet on your hand or hold it and begin talking to the puppet, telling it about your child or something that has happened that day.

• As your child becomes more interested in the puppet's reaction, then you can begin talking for the puppet, answering the questions you ask, and turning the puppet to talk with your child as well.

• When your child seems comfortable with this kind of pretending, let his or her puppet talk to yours.

Here are a few suggestions to get puppet stories started:

The best stories are generally the ones that come from you and your child as you play together.

• Everyday experiences in a puppet family as they wake up, eat, or do other daily routines
• Taming a scary puppet
• A new child comes to your neighborhood
• The puppet is worried about starting school
• The puppet doesn't want to go to bed

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