“I’ve found the alligator with a mouth that zippers to open and close to be a wonderful and highly effective puppet and people of all ages are immediately drawn to it. It is often used to express oral aggression, angrily eating up anything in its path. But it’s also held secrets for children who had been physically or sexually abused – letting the words out little by little as the zipper is slowly opened.”


7. Dinosaur (16%)


“The dinosaur is often used to express themes of power, control, and mastery.”


“My T-Rex is used for aggressive enactment of ‘fighting’ with an adversary.”


“Children use as both a protector or predator.” 6. Dog (18%)


“My most nurturing puppets are the dogs—a St. Bernard and a Sheepdog. They are soft protectors and children hold on to them, cuddle them, and may use them to speak on their behalf.”


“It is well known that children find them cute and comforting, and they help build rapport!”


“I use a small dog puppet to project children’s common concerns onto, e.g., ‘I’m scared because of lightning; will it get me?’: ‘I sometimes wet my dog blanket. Is that normal?’ Then I have my big, furry dog give an appropriate answer to these concerns.”


“When children want to play doctor with the puppets, usually the dog or cat are engaged in play, and bandages may be placed on them, ears checked, temperature taken, etc.”


“Sometimes a child wants a puppet to watch him play (usually a dog or cat). The child will reach out and pet the puppet. Depending on which puppet is being used, the dog may ‘lick’ the client on the ear or the cat will ‘purr’.”


5. Bird (20%) “My owl puppet to play a wise advise-giver role.”


“I use a colorful parrot with magical powers within a story to add solutions or reflections on different perspectives.”


“The eagle is used to play a ‘helper’ or ‘protector’ role.”


“I have a loud, obnoxious, squabbling bird that plays a ‘bossy’ role.” “A bird flies above things and easily escapes danger.”


4. Shark (26%)


“Children who need to express anger seem to be drawn to this puppet.”


“Really allows children to explore challenging emotions, like fear/anxiety and aggression, in a socially acceptable forum.”


“My most popular puppet is the shark with two sets of large teeth. This gives the feeling of being totally protected from harm because it is fierce looking and large and can eat the bad guys.”


“My shark has teeth and a mouth that opens to allow the expression of primal feelings of aggression.”


3. Family & Occupational (30%) “Mom, Dad, and two children are used a lot to portray


family interactions. They are sometimes used in pairs.”


“I have a family animal group, e.g., 3 baby mice and mother mouse so children can express relational issues—nurturance or hiding from Mom.”


“Children use people puppets to project personal issues/needs due to their human- like features.”


“Policeman for arresting bad people and representing the law.”


“Doctor for children with medical issues.” 2. Turtle (32%)


“A turtle who hides in its shell is perfect for shy and anxious kids.”


“Because drawing in the head of a shy acting turtle symbolizes the experience of many shy, young children who wish to hide in social situations.”


“This puppet has been great to engage children who might be reluctant to show themselves in some way, whether it is at the beginning of treatment or as they try to work through something difficult.”


“I often use it to teach children to Stop, Think, and Relax (Turtle Technique) before acting impulsively.”


1. Dragon (38%)


“Often used to express aggressive victim or perpetrator themes.”


“In my 43 years as a play therapist I can easily say that a very large red dragon (Folkmanis) is the single most popular puppet since it easily represents powerful and scary feelings.”


“Many children will project a ‘scary’, threating experience or person onto the dragon in an attempt to master it.”


26 PLAYTHERAPY | September 2017 | www.a4pt.org


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