Dylan is one of The Puppet Company's most popular ECO Sockettes characters, made from 97% recycled materials. Measuring 38cm tall, Dylan features trademark glasses, a stripy tie, and antennae, with embroidered eyes and a wide, expressive mouth. A built-in squeaker in his tongue adds an element of interactive fun, and his distinctive appearance makes him a reliable attention-grabber from 18 months of age through to adult use.

How Dylan helps with communication and learning

For children with dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, or other learning differences, puppets offer a low-pressure route into spoken language. When a child speaks through or alongside a puppet, the anxiety of direct communication reduces significantly, making it easier to practise words, sentences, and ideas. Dylan's quirky character - with his glasses and tie - lends itself naturally to scenarios involving curiosity, questions, and exploration, all of which are rich territory for vocabulary and language development.

The wide mouth and built-in squeaker encourage children to play with voice, tone, and expression, supporting phonological awareness and confidence in speaking. Dylan is a characterful enough puppet to hold the attention of children who find it difficult to sustain focus during literacy or communication activities.

Why Dylan works well in schools and early years settings

• Highly engaging character: Dylan's glasses, tie, and antennae make him instantly recognisable and memorable, giving children a strong anchor for storytelling, role play, and communication activities across EYFS and Key Stage 1.
• Supports open-ended questioning and curiosity: Dylan's look invites children to ask and answer questions in character, which is particularly valuable for developing questioning skills, inferencing, and comprehension - areas where children with dyslexia often benefit from structured practice.
• Reduces speaking anxiety: Puppets create a safe distance between the child and the activity, making vocal participation feel more accessible for reluctant speakers and children who find direct communication challenging.
• Eco-conscious purchasing: Made from 97% recycled materials, Dylan is among the most sustainably made puppets in the ECO Sockettes range and supports schools and settings with strong environmental procurement policies.
• Suitable across EYFS, KS1, and SEND settings: With an age range starting from 18 months, Dylan works across Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1, and older SEND support groups where imaginative play and puppet-based intervention remain effective tools.

At home

Dylan works just as well at home as he does in school. Parents supporting children with dyslexia or communication difficulties will find that introducing a puppet into reading aloud, sound practice, and storytelling can reduce the pressure on the child and make the activity considerably more enjoyable. Dylan's personality tends to spark conversation with very little prompting.

Why puppets support children with learning differences

Research and classroom experience consistently show that puppets lower anxiety around speaking and reading tasks. For children with dyslexia, working memory demands can make activities like reading aloud or retelling a story feel stressful. When a puppet mediates the

• Made from 97% recycled materials: One of the highest recycled-content puppets in The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range, supporting sustainable and environmentally responsible purchasing.
• Built-in tongue squeaker: Encourages interactive play and draws children into vocal and communication activities naturally.
• Wide expressive mouth: Supports voice exploration, sound play, and storytelling, making Dylan a practical tool for speech and language work.
• Distinctive character design: Features trademark glasses, a stripy tie, and antennae with embroidered eyes and a friendly face - bold and memorable enough to engage children in group and one-to-one settings.
• Dimensions: Height 38cm x Width 14cm x Length 13cm.
• Materials: 97% recycled knitted textile fabric.
• Age suitability: Suitable for children aged 18 months and above; appropriate for adults in professional and therapeutic settings.
• What's included: 1 x Dylan ECO Sockettes hand puppet.
• Brand: The Puppet Company
• SKU/MPN: PC007032

• What is the Dylan ECO Sockettes puppet?
  Dylan is a 38cm hand puppet from The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range, made from 97% recycled materials. He features trademark glasses, a stripy tie, antennae, embroidered eyes, and a built-in tongue squeaker, and is suitable for children aged 18 months and above. Dylan is one of the most popular characters in the Sockettes collection.
• How does the Dylan puppet help children with dyslexia or communication difficulties?
  The Dylan ECO Sockettes puppet helps children with dyslexia and communication difficulties by reducing the pressure of direct speaking. His quirky, curious character invites question-and-answer play and open-ended storytelling, which are particularly effective for developing inferencing, vocabulary, and expressive language. The wide mouth and squeaker make voice exploration fun rather than daunting.
• What age is the Dylan ECO Sockettes puppet suitable for?
  The Dylan ECO Sockettes puppet is suitable for children aged 18 months and above. He is widely used by early years practitioners, Key Stage 1 teachers, and SEND support staff, and is equally suitable for adults using Dylan in a therapeutic or professional context.
• Is the Dylan puppet suitable for classroom or school use?
  Yes, the Dylan ECO Sockettes puppet is well suited to classroom use. He is durable, easy to handle, and supports a wide range of activities including circle time, storytelling, literacy interventions, questioning and comprehension work, and speech and language sessions. His memorable design makes him a consistent favourite with children across year groups.
• Is the Dylan ECO Sockettes puppet eco-friendly?
  Yes, Dylan is made from 97% recycled materials, making him one of the most sustainably produced puppets in The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range. He is a strong choice for schools and settings with environmental procurement policies.
• Can the Dylan puppet be used in speech and language therapy?
  Yes, hand puppets including the Dylan ECO Sockettes are widely used by speech and language therapists and SENCOs to support children with communication difficulties. Puppets reduce the anxiety of direct speaking, making it easier for children to practise sounds, vocabulary, questioning, and conversational turn-taking in a relaxed and engaging setting.
• How big is the Dylan ECO Sockettes puppet?
  Dylan measures 38cm in height, 14cm in width, and 13cm in length. This size makes him comfortable to use over an adult hand and visible enough for group storytelling and classroom activities.
• Does the Dylan ECO Sockettes puppet have a squeaker?
  Yes, Dylan has a built-in squeaker in his tongue. The squeaker encourages interactive play and is particularly effective at engaging younger children and drawing reluctant speakers into vocal and communication activities.