Rainbow is a vibrantly colourful ECO Sockettes hand puppet from The Puppet Company, made from 77% recycled materials. Measuring 38cm tall, Rainbow features all the colours of the rainbow across a striking design with a blue fur mane, contrasting green face, colourful nose, detailed ears, and little teeth. A built-in squeaker in the tongue and a wide, expressive mouth make Rainbow an interactive and engaging tool for imaginative play, colour-based learning, and communication development. Suitable for children aged 18 months and above and loved by adults too, Rainbow is one of the most visually spectacular characters in the ECO Sockettes collection.

How Rainbow 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. Rainbow's multi-coloured design makes the puppet a particularly rich stimulus for descriptive language activities - naming colours, describing features, and comparing details are all naturally prompted by a character this visually complex, which builds vocabulary and observational language in an engaging, practical way.

The little teeth and wide mouth are especially useful for phonics and mouth-awareness activities, giving children a concrete visual reference for how sounds are formed. The built-in squeaker adds an element of interactive fun that draws children into vocal play naturally.

Why Rainbow works well in schools and early years settings

• Rich stimulus for colour and descriptive language: Rainbow's multi-coloured design naturally prompts colour naming, descriptive vocabulary, and observational language activities, making the puppet valuable across EYFS colour recognition work, early literacy, and vocabulary development sessions.
• Supports phonics and mouth-awareness work: The visible little teeth and wide, expressive mouth make Rainbow a useful visual reference during phonics sessions and sound-formation activities, helping children connect the physical production of sounds with what they can see.
• 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.
• Made from 77% recycled materials: Part of The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range, supporting sustainable and environmentally responsible purchasing for schools and settings.
• Suitable across EYFS, KS1, and SEND settings: With an age range starting from 18 months, Rainbow works across Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1, and older SEND support groups where puppet-based activities remain an effective communication and literacy tool.

At home

Rainbow is just as effective at home as in the classroom. Parents supporting children with dyslexia or communication difficulties will find that the vivid, multi-coloured design gives plenty to talk about, making it easier to build natural conversation around the puppet during reading, storytelling, and play. Children who find it difficult to sustain engagement with quieter, simpler toys often respond well to a character as visually rich as Rainbow.

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. Rainbow's colourful, attention-holding design and visible mouth features make it a particularly practical choice for early phonics and vocabulary work, two of the areas where early targeted support for children with dyslexia has the greatest long-term impact.

Ready to add Rainbow to your setting?

Rainbow 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 77% recycled materials: Part of The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range, supporting sustainable and 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 with little teeth: Supports voice exploration, sound play, and phonics work, with visible teeth providing a useful reference point for mouth-awareness and sound-formation activities.
• Spectacular multi-coloured design: Blue fur mane, contrasting green face, colourful nose, and detailed ears featuring all the colours of the rainbow - the most visually vibrant character in the ECO Sockettes range.
• Dimensions: Height 38cm x Width 14cm x Length 13cm.
• Age suitability: Suitable for children aged 18 months and above; appropriate for adults in professional and therapeutic settings.
• What's included: 1 x Rainbow ECO Sockettes hand puppet.
• Brand: The Puppet Company
• SKU/MPN: PC007023

• What is the Rainbow ECO Sockettes puppet?
  Rainbow ECO Sockettes is a 38cm hand puppet from The Puppet Company, made from 77% recycled materials. Featuring all the colours of the rainbow across a blue fur mane, contrasting green face, colourful nose, detailed ears, and little teeth, Rainbow also has a built-in tongue squeaker and is suitable for children aged 18 months and above.
• How does the Rainbow puppet help children with dyslexia or communication difficulties?
  The Rainbow ECO Sockettes puppet helps children with dyslexia and communication difficulties in several ways. The vibrant multi-coloured design naturally prompts descriptive language and colour vocabulary, while the visible teeth and wide mouth provide a useful reference for phonics and sound-formation work. The squeaker and open-ended character make voice exploration engaging and accessible for reluctant communicators.
• What age is the Rainbow ECO Sockettes puppet suitable for?
  The Rainbow ECO Sockettes puppet is suitable for children aged 18 months and above. It is used by early years practitioners, Key Stage 1 teachers, and SEND support staff, and is equally appropriate for adults using Rainbow in a therapeutic or professional context.
• Is the Rainbow puppet suitable for classroom or school use?
  Yes, the Rainbow ECO Sockettes puppet is well suited to classroom use. Its multi-coloured design makes it a strong stimulus for colour recognition, descriptive vocabulary, and observational language work, while the wide mouth and visible teeth add practical value in phonics and sound-awareness sessions alongside circle time and storytelling activities.
• Is the Rainbow ECO Sockettes puppet eco-friendly?
  Yes, Rainbow is made from 77% 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 Rainbow puppet help with phonics?
  Yes. Rainbow's wide mouth and visible little teeth make it a useful visual reference during phonics sessions, helping children see how sounds are formed and connect mouth position to the sounds they are practising. This makes Rainbow a particularly practical choice for early phonics intervention alongside its broader use for storytelling and communication support.
• How big is the Rainbow ECO Sockettes puppet?
  Rainbow measures 38cm in height, 14cm in width, and 13cm in length. This size makes it comfortable to fit over an adult hand and visible enough for group activities and classroom use.
• Does the Rainbow ECO Sockettes puppet have a squeaker?
  Yes, Rainbow has a built-in squeaker in the tongue. The squeaker encourages interactive play and is particularly effective at engaging younger children and drawing reluctant speakers into vocal and communication activities.