Gloria is one of The Puppet Company's most popular ECO Sockettes characters, made from 74% recycled materials. Measuring 38cm tall, Gloria features a rainbow-striped body, pink glasses, vibrant purple hair, and a friendly embroidered face, alongside a built-in squeaker in her tongue and a wide, expressive mouth. Suitable for children aged 18 months and above and loved by adults too, Gloria is a vivid and engaging tool for imaginative play, storytelling, and communication development.

How Gloria 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 to a puppet, the anxiety of direct communication reduces, making it easier to practise words, sentences, and ideas. Gloria's bold, rainbow design and distinctive features make her immediately attention-grabbing, which is particularly helpful when working with children who benefit from strong visual anchors during learning activities.

Her wide mouth and built-in squeaker encourage voice play, sound exploration, and expressive language, supporting phonological awareness and confidence in speaking. As one of the most popular characters in the Sockettes range, Gloria has a proven track record of engaging children and adults across a wide variety of educational and therapeutic settings.

Why Gloria works well in schools and early years settings

• Exceptional visual appeal: Gloria's rainbow stripes, pink glasses, and purple hair make her one of the most visually striking puppets in the ECO Sockettes range. Children respond to her immediately, making her a reliable tool for capturing attention at the start of sessions and sustaining engagement throughout.
• Supports diversity and inclusion conversations: Gloria's vibrant, colourful design lends itself naturally to discussions around colour, difference, and individuality, making her a useful character for circle time and PSHE activities as well as literacy and communication work.
• Reduces speaking anxiety: Puppets create a helpful distance between the child and the activity, making participation more accessible for reluctant speakers and children who find direct communication challenging or stressful.
• Made from recycled materials: Crafted from 74% recycled materials, Gloria supports schools and settings with a commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible purchasing.
• Suitable across EYFS, KS1, and SEND settings: With an age range starting from 18 months, Gloria works across Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1, and older SEND support groups where puppet-based activities remain an effective intervention tool.

At home

Gloria is just as effective at home as she is in the classroom. Parents supporting children with dyslexia or communication difficulties will find that a puppet as engaging as Gloria can transform reading aloud, sound practice, and storytelling from a source of anxiety into something genuinely enjoyable. Her striking appearance tends to get children talking and engaged quickly, with very little need for encouragement.

Why puppets support children with learning differences

Research and classroom experience consistently show that puppets reduce anxiety around speaking and reading tasks. For children with dyslexia, the cognitive demands of reading aloud or retelling a story can feel overwhelming. When a puppet mediates the activity, children typically find it easier to engage, take turns, and experiment with language without the fear of making mistakes. Speech and language therapists regularly incorporate puppets into structured intervention sessions for exactly this reason, and a character as vivid and memorable as Gloria can be particularly effective at drawing in children who might otherwise be reluctant to participate.

Ready to add Gloria to your setting?

Gloria the ECO Sockettes hand puppet is available now at The Dyslexia Shop. If you are buying for a school, nursery, or organisation and would like to discuss a bulk order, please contact the team directly.

• Made from 74% recycled materials: Part of The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range, supporting sustainable and environmentally responsible purchasing for schools and families.
• One of the most popular ECO Sockettes characters: Confirmed as a consistently popular character in the range, with broad appeal across children and adults of all ages.
• 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 Gloria a practical tool for speech and language work.
• Vivid, distinctive design: Rainbow-striped body, pink glasses, vibrant purple hair, and a friendly embroidered face - immediately eye-catching in group and one-to-one settings.
• Dimensions: Height 38cm x Width 14cm x Length 13cm.
• Materials: 74% 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 Gloria ECO Sockettes hand puppet.
• Brand: The Puppet Company
• SKU/MPN: PC007033

• What is the Gloria ECO Sockettes puppet?
  Gloria ECO Sockettes is a 38cm hand puppet from The Puppet Company, made from 74% recycled materials and one of the most popular characters in the Sockettes range. She features a rainbow-striped body, pink glasses, vibrant purple hair, a friendly embroidered face, and a built-in tongue squeaker, and is suitable for children aged 18 months and above.
• How does the Gloria puppet help children with dyslexia or communication difficulties?
  The Gloria ECO Sockettes puppet helps children with dyslexia and communication difficulties by reducing the anxiety around direct speaking. Her bold, rainbow design provides a strong visual anchor for children who benefit from clear, engaging stimuli during learning activities. The wide mouth and squeaker make voice and sound exploration fun rather than daunting, and her open-ended character works across a wide range of language and literacy activities.
• What age is the Gloria ECO Sockettes puppet suitable for?
  The Gloria ECO Sockettes puppet is suitable for children aged 18 months and above. She is used by early years practitioners, Key Stage 1 teachers, and SEND support staff, and is equally appropriate for adults using Gloria in a therapeutic or professional setting.
• Is the Gloria puppet suitable for classroom or school use?
  Yes, the Gloria ECO Sockettes puppet is well suited to classroom use. Her striking appearance makes her effective for capturing and holding children's attention across circle time, storytelling, literacy interventions, PSHE activities, and speech and language sessions.
• Is the Gloria ECO Sockettes puppet eco-friendly?
  Yes, Gloria is made from 74% recycled materials as part of The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range. The range is designed for buyers and settings who want to make environmentally responsible purchasing choices without compromising on quality or play value.
• Can the Gloria puppet be used in speech and language therapy?
  Yes, hand puppets including the Gloria 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 vocabulary, expressive language, and conversational turn-taking in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.
• How big is the Gloria ECO Sockettes puppet?
  Gloria measures 38cm in height, 14cm in width, and 13cm in length. This size makes her comfortable to fit over an adult hand and visible enough for group storytelling and classroom activities.
• Does the Gloria ECO Sockettes puppet have a squeaker?
  Yes, Gloria has a built-in squeaker in her tongue. The squeaker encourages interactive play and is particularly effective at engaging younger children and drawing reluctant speakers into vocal and communication activities.