VEYLDF Alignment
Item uses these practice principles: Reflective practice, Partnerships with families, High expectations for every child, Respectful relationships and responsive engagement, Equity and diversity, Assessment for learning and development, Integrated teaching and learning approaches.
Description
Using Puppets for Social and Emotional Learning is run by a speech pathologist, Lucia Smith, who has used puppets successfully in her work with children for over 25 years. It consists of a 5-hour workshop and 3 brief follow-up sessions (via phone or Zoom).
Through the training participants:
Learn how to use hand puppets in a way that is engaging to children (“making a puppet come alive”)
Explore current theories of social development and the levels of social understanding necessary for developing successful peer relationships
Learn about why children vary in their social and emotional capabilities
Explore the three types of puppet use applicable to the early childhood setting
Explore the Social Puppets program and discuss how implement it within a centre
Learn about Theory of Mind, deficits in Theory of Mind, and how to promote it using a puppet
Explore theories of emotional intelligence and its development
Learn how to model emotions using a puppet in order to promote a rich emotional vocabulary
Learn how to demonstrate emotional regulation using a puppet
Learn how to set up play-based learning with puppets to further reinforce social and emotional learning
Learn how to use a calming puppet
Learn the Tommy Turtle anger management strategy
Learn how to adapt the above learning to other modes of play and book-sharing
Training sessions can be accessed in one of three ways:
Option One: Puppets for Learning comes to you
The training can be hosted by your service for up to 30 participants (you may wish to pool funding with other services in your area to access this training).
Suggested hours: 9.30 – 3.30 (with 15 mins for morning tea and 45 mins for lunch).
Puppets for Learning are also happy to run training on a Saturday or a Sunday.
Option Two: Attendance at Melbourne-based workshopEducators can attend Melbourne-based training days at the Hawthorn Campus of Melbourne University. There is ample free parking available and public transport in walking distance.
Choose from the following dates (places strictly limited due to Covid-19 Restrictions):
Option Three: Zoom training sessions
Zoom training is run across two 2.5 hour sessions. You will be sent the training manual (on USB) prior to the training.
A Puppet Package containing six puppets designed to complement specific parts of the program is also available.
Detailed Costs
Option One: Puppets for Learning comes to you
Workshop hosted by early childhood service for up to 30 participants: $1980 (incl. GST)
Option Two: Attendance at Melbourne-based workshopAttendance at Melbourne-based workshop at The University of Melbourne,
Hawthorn campus: $385 (incl. GST) per participant
Option Three: Zoom training sessions
Zoom training sessions: $385
(incl. GST) per participant
The Puppet Package: Ranges from $357-$380 (incl. GST)
Implementation Considerations
Target Population: Educators.
Program/practice descriptions and details: During the training workshop, participants plan a session applicable to their early childhood service and practise a mock session with specific feedback provided. The follow-up sessions prompt participants to be reflective in their current practice and plan for improvement. Any issues are discussed, and support provided to further the success of the programming.
Staffing: Services should consider the cost of backfill in determining the cost of accessing this resource.
Supervision/coaching: Three brief phone-based or online follow-up sessions are included to prompt participants to be reflective in their current practice and plan for improvement.
Tools and systems: For service-based workshops, a data projector with sound is required.
Priority Area
Wellbeing (social and emotional)
Strength of Evidence
Level 4 – Emerging research evidence