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    Hand Puppet Coaching: A Playful Facade with Serious Results for Children
    May 24, 2023
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    May 2, 2018
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    Hand Puppet Coaching: A Playful Facade with Serious Results for Children
    May 24, 2023
    Discover the Magic of the Hand Puppet together!
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    The hand puppet in childcare
    April 28, 2022
    A New Start with a Hand Puppet: Who, What and How
    August 6, 2019
    Dress up and role play: involve a hand puppet!
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    Discover the Magic of the Hand Puppet together!
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    A New Start with a Hand Puppet: Who, What and How
    August 6, 2019
    Dress up and role play: involve a hand puppet!
    May 2, 2018
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Helen Meurs Helen Meurs
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    About Me

    Hi, I'm Helen, the 'teacher with the puppet'. Through this blog I share my news, my discoveries, videos and activities with the hand puppet. Follow me if you don't want to miss any of that.

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    • A Journey towards Peace and Spaciousness

      June 15, 2023

    • Friendships don’t have to end when summer vacation starts

      May 30, 2023

    • Hand Puppet Coaching: A Playful Facade with Serious Results for Children

      May 24, 2023

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  • I shall be less active on Instagram from now on. May I invite you into my Facebookgroup? I've embarked on a journey with hand puppets that's been so enriching and valuable that I feel compelled to share it with you. The seemingly simple hand puppet possesses the power to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and create moments that leave a lasting impression on both you and the child. If you've been searching for a playful, imaginative, yet highly effective way to connect with children and build trust, I'm here to guide you in discovering the magic of a hand puppet. To me, a hand puppet isn't just a toy; it's an extension of your personality and emotions. It amplifies everything you convey! 🌈 I also extend an invitation for you to join my group, 'Puppets That Empower'. Here, we delve deep into the myriad possibilities that hand puppets present. Whether you're a novice seeking your puppet's unique voice or an experienced puppeteer aiming to hone your craft, this community offers a wealth of insights, experiences, and shared joys. I'm excited about embarking on this remarkable journey with you. Together, let's create a world dominated by joy, where we empower children, instill confidence, and actively contribute to strengthening the next generation—one puppet at a time! Warmly, Helen Join my group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/puppetsthatempower
  • 🌟 Discovering How Hand Puppets Benefit Children's Development 🤹‍♂️ Hello everyone! I want to share a quick insight about hand puppets and how they positively impact a child's growth. 🎈🌱 In the upcoming video, I'll be exploring the wonderful world of hand puppets and how they can contribute to children's development. They're not just cute toys; they're actually powerful tools that boost creativity, improve communication skills, and help build confidence. 🎭🗣️ I'm excited to show you how hand puppets can nurture imagination, self-expression, and social skills in kids. Let's dive in and see how puppetry can make a difference! 🌟🌟 #HandPuppetMagic #ChildDevelopment #PuppetryAdventure
  • This gnoom was a gift I gave my grandmother 35 years ago. In 1994, she left this world, and I received the gnoom as a precious memory of her. A believer in gnooms and fairytales, her kindness and warmth inspired me to become the hand puppet coach and creator I am today. More than a grandmother, she was my muse and guiding light. Through childhood walks in the woods, she revealed the world's wonders and pointed out its hidden treasures. Her belief in creation and magic taught me to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Just like the gnoom, her presence never leaves me. Her memory accompanies me, held with pride and gratitude. After my 24th birthday, she passed, but not before witnessing my journey to become a teacher. With joy, she exclaimed, "Our Helen becomes a teacher!" Teaching matched her Christian heart and values. Now, I stand prepared to share my passion and expertise as a hand puppet coach. Her spirit, cheering from above, fuels my drive. I believe she'd cherish the joy my work brings, though she never saw me play with puppets. The gnoom signifies the profound bond I share with my grandmama—believing in oneself, harnessing imagination's power, and evoking wonder in others. It guides me to infuse my work with love, mirroring her lifelong approach. As you read this, you're someone who values creativity and inspiration. You appreciate the warmth and kindness my grandmother instilled in me, seeking similar wonder in your own life. Together, let's journey into creativity, imagination, and growth, echoing her teachings. Throughout this 30-day marathon, I'll recount stories, insights, and experiences that shaped my path as a hand puppet coach. Let's conjure magic together, spreading love and joy. I'm eager to connect with you and collaborate with someone who grasps my grandma's profound influence. Let's craft wonder and inspiration jointly! Warmly, Helen 🌿🎭❤️ #GrandmasInfluence #HandPuppetCoach #CreatingWithLove 🌟
  • Have you ever seen the documentary 'Being Elmo'? It's the inspiring story of Kevin Clash, a working-class boy from Baltimore who pursued his dream of becoming a puppeteer at Jim Henson's studio (yes, the creative genius behind the Muppets and Sesame Street). In the Dutch version of Sesame Street, Elmo might not have been a prominent character – I don't recall seeing much of him when I watched the show as a child. So, when this documentary was released, it provided a wonderful opportunity to become better acquainted with Elmo. I absolutely loved the documentary. It wasn't just about Elmo himself, but also about how Kevin Clash discusses Elmo, the character's growth, and the underlying messages that Elmo conveys. It's truly captivating! To me, the real magic of a puppet lies in the way it thinks, behaves, and reacts. Kevin Clash's story beautifully exemplifies this. If you haven't watched 'Being Elmo,' I highly recommend it. If you didn't already love Elmo, I'm sure this documentary will make you fall in love with him. You can find BeingElmo on Netflix #DocumentaryRecommendation #KevinClashStory #InspiringJourney #JimHensonLegacy #PuppeteerTales #CreativeGenius #CaptivatingStories #PuppetryArt #CharacterDevelopment #BehindTheScenes #MustWatchDocumentary #ChildhoodNostalgia #StorytellingMagic #DreamPursuit #FallingInLoveWithElmo
  • I worked as a substitute in education and childcare for a while. You know how it goes, and you might have done it yourself. In the best case, there was a program ready for me, the teacher had written down what I could do that day. But that program never seemed to work out and often turned into a series of frustrations. Children just react differently to 'the substitute'. Kids who usually sit quietly suddenly start running around. Kids who definitely know where the pencils are seem to forget instantly, and if you believe the kids, their teacher is fine with ten of them sitting in the play corner or smearing a banana all over the table. Yeah, right! I discovered that being a substitute can be quite an exhausting job. So, I got smarter. I started taking my puppet with me to all my substitute jobs. That puppet changed the atmosphere as soon as we walked in, made the kids curious, and made them all sit down when I asked them to. I made my puppet say, 'I got to come with her today (pointing at me). I'm excited because I want to see how things work here.' Often, the kids would start shouting answers all at once, and my puppet would say, 'Oh, I can't understand when you all talk together like that. Do you always do it this way?' No, at their teacher's, they had to raise their hands. 'Yes, let's do that too, okay? Then I can understand better.' After we listened to everything, and I found it too much to remember, my puppet would say, 'Okay, I find all of that a bit difficult, how about we do things differently today? Just because I'm here now, and I'd also like to play some games with you.' And then, together, we would come up with a fun, relaxed way to spend the day. I wouldn't end up cleaning the mess for another hour afterward, and I often got called again when the teacher needed a substitute. Kids wanted 'that teacher with the puppet.' They had forgotten my name, but they always remembered my puppet's name, even years later. #SubstituteTeacher #CreativeTeaching #InnovativeClassroom #EducationAdventures #TeachingWithPuppets #EngagingStudents #MakingLearningFun #UnconventionalTeaching #PositiveClassroomVibes #TeachingStories
  • If there's one thing I've learned from working with a puppet, it's that play is healing. A puppet offers you the chance to play again, to color outside the lines and do things that you, as an adult, might hesitate to do. The key is to ensure the puppet isn't just a reflection of you but has its own distinct personality. There are more benefits to this, but I'll delve into those in another post. A puppet that responds differently than you not only sparks a child's curiosity but also allows you to try new things, act differently, and be silly. It's quite refreshing. Your puppet can come up with ideas that might make you slightly uncomfortable. For example, it might suggest that everyone growls like bears today, or be more direct than you are, or makes funny faces. It might decide that you join in on a game (especially since it can't play on its own), that you hide with it (because it can't hide alone), or that you get painted (because it can never wash off its colors). My experience has shown that a puppet doesn't just change children's lives, but yours too. It brings in playfulness, levity, and kids play different jokes with it than they would with you. So, if you're wondering why you chose a profession with kids and are feeling a bit burnt out... start playing again. And if that idea scares you, get a puppet. Just like kids, you can comfortably hide behind it. The puppet will also help you grow. I promise. #PuppetPower, #HealingThroughPlay, #ReconnectWithPlay, #PuppetAdventures, #ChildlikeWonder, #MoreThanJustAPuppet, #RediscoverPlay, #PuppetLifeChanger, #BeyondTheStrings, #BringOutTheChildInYou, #HideBehindThePuppet, #PuppetGrowth

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