Play and Connect: Strengthen Your Relationship with a Child Through a Puppet
A journey that will permanently change the way you connect.

Have you ever tried “something” with a puppet? Walked into a room with a puppet on your hand and noticed that the child’s full attention shifted towards it? That something happened which you couldn’t quite explain, but that left a lasting impression?

If so, you’ve witnessed the power of the puppet at work. It’s fascinating to see how a puppet can captivate children with its story and how easily it draws out responses.

Yet, for many of us, using a puppet feels a little awkward. We’re not sure how to go about it, and we’re often unsure of how to respond to the reactions from children. We’ve lost the knack of playing with puppets and end up just winging it. When that doesn’t go as we hoped, we quickly think it’s not for us and stop trying.

That’s a shame because it really doesn’t take much to harness the power of the puppet and use it consistently to help children in their development.

To help you with this, I’ve developed this course.

I started 30 years ago, just like you, feeling awkward, not knowing what I was doing. In fact, I was so unsure that I ended up stuffing the puppet back in my bag when all the kids started shouting that I was the one doing it, that I was the puppet. The more I tried to ignore it, the louder they got, and eventually, the chaos was so overwhelming that I gave up. “This isn’t for me,” I thought.

Now, 30 years later, I’ve written 3 books on the subject, recorded over 1,000 videos, and written more than 500 blogs and articles on how to make a puppet work for you and how to integrate it into all sorts of different situations and topics.

The puppet has become my most important tool, mainly because it made such a huge difference for the children in my class and gave me insights into them that I would never have gotten otherwise.

“What does this puppet have that I don’t, and how can I use that?” became the starting point of my research into puppets, and now I know exactly what the puppet should and shouldn’t do to engage children in conversation, a story, an activity, task, or skill to be learned.

How you do that and where to start is what I’ll teach you in this course.

In this course, you will:

• Bring your puppet to life,
• Create a character that is recognizable and believable to children,
• Work on building connections through which your puppet forms a bond with the child and becomes a trusted friend,
• Think about how you can use your puppet to introduce the lessons, skills, or messages you want to convey to the child,
• Practice the two different roles you take on through your puppet: yourself and your puppet,
• Learn how your puppet can invite a child into a conversation, story, activity, task, or learning experience,

All in a way that is playful, accessible, and safe for the child, while also providing you with additional information.

I’ll guide you into the wonderful world of puppetry, give you the shortcut to a successful puppet, and let you practice what really matters if you want to lower the barriers through a puppet.

If you wish, you can also take advantage of a fantastic bonus: the Puppet Power Playschool, where you’ll receive weekly playful ideas and activities that your puppet can carry out with a child for a year, participate in a monthly live Zoom meeting, and become part of a community of like-minded people. You don’t have to use it, but it’s available if you choose.

Play and Connect includes 30 online lessons and costs $97. If you’re ready, we can start today.

What others say about my courses:
“In one word: amazing! Helen’s course gave me the confidence to use my puppet, even in 5th grade. My puppet, Maartje, has now become an essential part of my lessons.”
Yvette, teacher

“I found the course an eye-opener. It has a solid structure with a fun approach. I learned how to give my puppet, Mees, a character and voice, which made my interactions with children much more engaging.”
Ann, homeschooling parent

“Helen’s enthusiasm and practical tips significantly lowered the threshold for actually using my hand puppet. I’ve made so much progress and now use my puppet for almost all subjects, hearing so much more from children. A tremendous gift!”
Mary, counselor

“Helen gave me the confidence to really get started with my puppet. From feeling incompetent to empowered, thanks to her blend of knowledge and practical application.”
Christel, educator

“With a puppet, you literally have the possibilities in your own hands.”
Helen Meurs

Summary:

• Play and Connect offers focused online sessions that are easy to follow and accessible from anywhere.
• You can receive reminders to keep your learning process moving forward and help you make a habit of regularly using your puppet. This will form a new, positive routine that will help you actually use the puppet confidently. You choose if you want that and how often.

The incredible bonus gives you an entire year of access to the Puppet Power Playschool, where you’ll receive:

• Access to a supportive community: You’ll gain access to an exclusive members-only Facebook group where experiences, ideas, and new content are shared.
• Interactive monthly Q&A: Participate in the monthly Zoom meetings where we play together and address questions or situations. Can’t make it? No problem, you can always watch the replay.
• A year of weekly ‘sparks’: Each week, you’ll receive an idea ready for your puppet to use in engaging with a child. The groundwork is done for you, and you’ll build a treasure trove of ideas that you can continue to use even after the course.

Start today and choose Play and Connect, with or without the Puppet Power Playschool. The price is the same, but only valid until the maximum of 300 members for the Puppet Power Playschool is reached.

I’m here to help you, and I can’t wait to welcome you and take you on the most fun adventure I know – playing with a puppet.

Start today

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Play and Connect course?
Play and Connect is a 30-lesson online course designed to teach you how to use a puppet to build stronger, more meaningful relationships with children. The course guides you step-by-step through creating a believable puppet character, developing strategies to engage children, and using the puppet to achieve educational or developmental goals. It’s a journey that will show you how to make your puppet a trusted tool in your work or interactions with children.

2. Who is Play and Connect designed for?
This course is perfect for anyone who works with children—whether professionally or at home. Educators, parents, caregivers, counselors, and therapists will all benefit from learning how to use a puppet to create deeper, more engaging connections with children. If you want to go beyond surface-level interactions and really understand and engage with children, this course is for you.

3. What is the difference between Play and Connect and the Puppet Power Playschool?
Play and Connect is a structured online course that provides all the foundational knowledge and strategies you need to start using a puppet effectively with children. It focuses on teaching you how to create and bring your puppet to life, while guiding you through the different ways you can use it in various settings.

The Puppet Power Playschool is an optional bonus program you can join after the course, offering a full year of weekly activities, monthly live Zoom meetings, and access to an exclusive community of like-minded people. It provides ongoing support, fresh ideas, and a space to share your experiences with others, helping you continuously develop your puppet’s potential.

4. Do I need prior experience with puppets to take this course?
No prior experience is needed! Play and Connect is designed for anyone who wants to learn, whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who has tried using a puppet before but didn’t feel confident. The course starts with the basics and helps you become comfortable with your puppet.

5. How does the online course work?
Once you enroll, you’ll have access to all 30 lessons through an easy-to-use online platform. The lessons are designed to be short and manageable, allowing you to work at your own pace. You can access the course from any device, making it simple to fit into your schedule. You’ll also receive reminders to encourage you to practice with your puppet regularly.

6. How is this course different from other online puppet courses?
Play and Connect is focused on more than just puppet performance—it’s about using the puppet as a tool for building real connections with children. With over 30 years of experience and practical insights, this course teaches you how to use a puppet to encourage participation, emotional expression, and learning. It’s a unique approach to using a puppet as a way to foster meaningful communication.

7. Can I gift the course to someone else?
Absolutely! Play and Connect makes a thoughtful and unique gift for parents, educators, and anyone who works with children. To gift the course, simply reach out to our support team, and we’ll assist you with the process.

Start today