Breakout Session

Puppetry as Empowerment: Providing Opportunity for Every Child's Voice to Be Heard

Alexandra Ashworth
Breakout Session D
Tue, Jun 16, 2026 | 3:30 - 4:30pm CDT

Session overview

Track:

Trauma and Resiliency of the Developing Child

Audience level: 

Foundational

Intended audience:

Anyone who works with young children in early childhood education, Childcare providers, Early childhood educators, Early childhood mental health professionals, Early Head Start personnel, Medical providers, Mental health providers, Parents/caregivers, Service providers

Session materials: 

This session does not have any session materials currently.

Session Description

How do we give a voice to children who feel as though they are not seen, heard, or their life-story has been untold? I welcome you to join me in an inspiring tale of how a child who was said to never be able to walk or speak, found a voice through the wondrous art of Puppetry and Creative Dramatics. Experience the power of Puppetry in bridging cultures, affirming children's identities, and hearing each child's story through a Trauma-Informed lens. Garner the tools to infuse these practices within children's Socio-Emotional Development, Peer to Peer relations, and expression of knowledge. Let us empower each child through play through the timeless art of Puppetry, ensuring every child's identity, voice and story is heard, embraced, and affirmed!

Learning objectives

  1. Participants will garner knowledge of the cultural significance of puppetry and how it can be utilized for students with disabilities, differing cultures/languages, varying socio-economic statuses, and traumatic experiences, ages one to six years of age.
  2. Participants will learn how to manipulate Puppets within the classroom space for exploration of emotion, peer to peer relationships, Literacy/Language curriculum, and connecting with students individual life-experiences and stories.

  3. Participants will learn how Puppetry can be utilized to tell one's story, express one's understanding of emotion, exploration of trauma, and social interactions with peers, specifically within ages 1-6. Providing a deeper understanding of the impact of Puppetry with:

    -Toddlers; Focusing on peer to peer interactions, identification of emotions, and lived experience, and behavior management.

    -Preschool; Focusing on perspective taking, exploration of ecological theory as a basis for the myriad of relationships, experiences, and cultural experiences each child individually experiences.

    -School Age: Puppetry as an avenue for safety in expressing their knowledge and understanding, socio-emotional understanding within peer to peer relationships, and Trauma-Informed practice for educators in relating to and connection with families, cultural backgrounds, socio-economic status, and the impact of these factors within a child's educational experience through Kindergarten.

  4. Participants will be empowered with tools to connect and hear each child's story through the forms of Puppetry, Music, Movement, and Dance within Language, Literacy, Cognitive, and Socio-Emotional Development.
  • How Music, Movement, and Literacy bridges gaps for Multilingual learners, children with disabilities, and varying backgrounds within peer to peer relationships.
  • Providing educators with the tools to individually, intimately, and creatively connect with and uplift each child within their care.
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