Humphrey is a lovable ECO Sockettes hand puppet from The Puppet Company, made from 99% recycled materials. Measuring 38cm tall, Humphrey features a colourful stripy body, glasses, and a bow tie, with embroidered eyes and a cheerful, friendly face. A built-in squeaker in his tongue and a wide, expressive mouth make him an engaging and interactive tool for imaginative play, storytelling, and communication development. Suitable for children aged 18 months and above and loved by adults too, Humphrey is a favourite in the ECO Sockettes collection.

How Humphrey 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. Humphrey's gentle, approachable character and cheerful expression make him particularly well suited to one-to-one intervention work, where a warm and non-threatening presence can make a significant difference to how comfortable a child feels participating.

The wide mouth and built-in squeaker encourage voice play, sound exploration, and expressive language, supporting phonological awareness and confidence in speaking. Humphrey's glasses and bow tie give him a distinctive, friendly personality that children find easy to engage with and project onto, which is especially useful in narrative and role play activities.

Why Humphrey works well in schools and early years settings

• Warm, approachable character: Humphrey's friendly expression and gentle design make him a reassuring presence for anxious or reluctant communicators, particularly children who find more dramatic or exaggerated puppet characters overstimulating.
• Supports structured language and storytelling activities: Humphrey works well across circle time, narrative sessions, literacy interventions, and speech and language support, providing a consistent, familiar character that children can build a relationship with over time.
• Reduces speaking anxiety: Puppets create a helpful distance between the child and the activity, making it easier for reluctant speakers and children with learning differences to engage with verbal tasks in a safe and supported way.
• Outstanding eco credentials: Made from 99% recycled materials, Humphrey is among the most sustainably produced puppets in the ECO Sockettes range, making him an excellent choice for schools and settings with environmental procurement policies.
• Suitable across EYFS, KS1, and SEND settings: With an age range starting from 18 months, Humphrey works across Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1, and older SEND support groups where puppets remain a valued intervention and engagement tool.

At home

Humphrey is just as effective at home as he is in school. Parents supporting children with dyslexia or communication difficulties will find his gentle, lovable character particularly useful for making reading aloud, sound practice, and storytelling feel less pressured. He tends to earn children's affection quickly and naturally, which is exactly what makes him such a good partner for communication activities.

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 find it easier to engage, take turns, and experiment with language without fear of getting things wrong. Speech and language therapists regularly use puppets in structured intervention sessions for exactly this reason. Humphrey's high recycled content and proven appeal make him a responsible, durable choice for settings that rely on puppets regularly.

Ready to add Humphrey to your setting?

Humphrey 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 99% recycled materials: One of the most sustainably produced puppets in The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range, supporting environmentally responsible purchasing for schools and families.
• 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 Humphrey a practical tool for speech and language work.
• Distinctive, lovable design: Colourful stripy body, glasses, and a bow tie with embroidered eyes and a cheerful face - warm and approachable in both group and one-to-one settings.
• Dimensions: Height 38cm x Width 14cm x Length 13cm.
• Materials: 99% 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 Humphrey ECO Sockettes hand puppet.
• Brand: The Puppet Company
• SKU/MPN: PC007034

• What is the Humphrey ECO Sockettes puppet?
  Humphrey ECO Sockettes is a 38cm hand puppet from The Puppet Company, made from 99% recycled materials. He features a colourful stripy body, glasses, a bow tie, embroidered eyes, and a built-in tongue squeaker, and is suitable for children aged 18 months and above.
• How does the Humphrey puppet help children with dyslexia or communication difficulties?
  The Humphrey ECO Sockettes puppet helps children with dyslexia and communication difficulties by reducing the anxiety around direct speaking. His warm, approachable character is particularly effective for one-to-one intervention work, where a gentle and non-threatening presence helps children feel comfortable participating. The wide mouth and squeaker make voice and sound exploration engaging rather than stressful.
• What age is the Humphrey ECO Sockettes puppet suitable for?
  The Humphrey ECO Sockettes puppet is suitable for children aged 18 months and above. He is used by early years practitioners, Key Stage 1 teachers, and SEND support staff, and is equally appropriate for adults using Humphrey in a therapeutic or professional context.
• Is the Humphrey puppet suitable for classroom or school use?
  Yes, the Humphrey ECO Sockettes puppet is well suited to classroom use. His gentle, lovable character works particularly well in circle time, one-to-one language sessions, storytelling activities, literacy interventions, and speech and language support. Children build a rapport with him easily, making him effective as a consistent classroom presence over time.
• Is the Humphrey ECO Sockettes puppet eco-friendly?
  Yes, Humphrey is made from 99% recycled materials, placing him among the most sustainably produced puppets in The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range. He is an excellent choice for schools and settings with environmental or sustainable procurement policies.
• Can the Humphrey puppet be used in speech and language therapy?
  Yes, hand puppets including the Humphrey ECO Sockettes are widely used by speech and language therapists and SENCOs to support children with communication difficulties. Humphrey's approachable character is particularly well suited to work with younger children or those who find more exuberant puppet characters overstimulating.
• How big is the Humphrey ECO Sockettes puppet?
  Humphrey measures 38cm in height, 14cm in width, and 13cm in length. This size makes him comfortable to fit over an adult hand and visible enough for group storytelling and classroom activities.
• Does the Humphrey ECO Sockettes puppet have a squeaker?
  Yes, Humphrey has a built-in squeaker in his tongue. The squeaker encourages interactive play and is particularly effective at drawing younger children and reluctant communicators into vocal and communication activities.