{"product_id":"humphrey-eco-sockettes","title":"Humphrey – ECO Sockettes","description":"\u003cp\u003eHumphrey 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Humphrey helps with communication and learning\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Humphrey works well in schools and early years settings\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWarm, approachable character:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupports structured language and storytelling activities:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReduces speaking anxiety:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOutstanding eco credentials:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable across EYFS, KS1, and SEND settings:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAt home\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHumphrey 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy puppets support children with learning differences\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eResearch 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eReady to add Humphrey to your setting?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHumphrey 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Puppet Company Limited","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57508612571518,"sku":"TA2386","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0653\/6560\/6649\/files\/Humphrey-Eco-Sockettes-PC007016-1-copy-2-scaled-1.jpg?v=1780565953","url":"https:\/\/www.thedyslexiashop.co.uk\/products\/humphrey-eco-sockettes","provider":"The Dyslexia Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}