Squelch ECO Sockettes Swamp Monster Hand Puppet by The Puppet Company

The Puppet Company Squelch ECO Sockettes Swamp Monster is a bright green, 38cm hand puppet designed for children aged 18 months and over. Made from eco-friendly materials, Squelch is a mischievous swamp monster character with a squeaky tongue and tight curly hair, built to inspire imaginative play, creative storytelling, and language development in young children.

How Squelch supports learning and communication

Puppets are a well-established tool for supporting early communication and language development. Children who find it difficult to speak up directly — including those with dyslexia, speech and language needs, or social communication differences — often find it far easier to talk through a puppet character. Squelch's playful, slightly silly personality makes him particularly effective as an icebreaker and a prompt for storytelling, vocabulary building, and turn-taking conversations.

His squeaky tongue adds an element of humour that encourages children to engage and respond. At 38cm, he is a comfortable size for small hands to manipulate, and the ECO Sockette design means he fits over the hand like a sock puppet, making him intuitive to use from the very first moment.

Why Squelch works well in schools and classrooms

• Accessible from 18 months: Squelch is suitable for nursery settings through to Key Stage 1 and beyond, covering a wide age range with a single product.
• Supports speech and language sessions: Puppets are used by speech and language therapists and class teachers to encourage verbal communication in children who are reluctant to speak.
• Drama and storytelling across the curriculum: Squelch is an engaging character for literacy lessons, drama sessions, and circle time activities.
• Easy to use without prior experience: The ECO Sockette format requires no setup or special skills, meaning any adult or child can pick him up and start playing immediately.
• Eco-conscious choice for schools: Made from eco-friendly materials, Squelch is a responsible purchase that aligns with school sustainability commitments.

Great for home use too

Parents looking for a gift that encourages creative play will find Squelch genuinely engaging. He makes an excellent companion for bedtime stories, pretend play, and family games. Children with dyslexia or learning differences often thrive with play-based activities, and a puppet can turn reading practice or narrative exercises into something they actively want to do.

Why puppets matter for early development

Research and professional guidance from organisations including the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists consistently highlight the value of play-based learning and puppetry in supporting communication skills. For children with dyslexia, developing strong oral language skills alongside literacy is particularly important — and puppets provide a low-pressure, high-engagement way to practise both.

A fun, purposeful addition to any collection

Whether you are building a classroom puppet corner, looking for a therapy resource, or searching for a gift that will genuinely be played with, Squelch delivers on all counts. Have a look and see if he fits what you need — we are always happy to help if you have questions.

• Character: Squelch, a mischievous swamp monster with a bright green body, tight curly hair, and a squeaky tongue
• Type: ECO Sockette hand puppet — fits over the hand like a sock puppet for intuitive, easy use
• Squeaky tongue feature: Built-in squeaky tongue adds interactive, playful engagement for young children
• Dimensions: Average Height 38cm x Width 14cm x Depth 13cm
• Age suitability: Suitable from 18 months
• Brand: The Puppet Company
• SKU / MPN: PC007042
• EAN / Barcode: 5060711731087
• Package contents: 1 x Squelch ECO Sockettes hand puppet
• Retail price: £19.99

• What is the Squelch ECO Sockettes hand puppet?
  The Squelch ECO Sockettes hand puppet is a bright green swamp monster character made by The Puppet Company, designed for children aged 18 months and over. Measuring 38cm tall, Squelch features a squeaky tongue and curly hair and is crafted from eco-friendly materials. He fits over the hand like a sock puppet, making him easy for young children and adults to use straight away.
• Who is the Squelch puppet suitable for?
  Squelch is suitable for children from 18 months upwards, making him appropriate for nursery, Reception, and Key Stage 1 settings as well as home use. Adults enjoy him too, particularly in storytelling, drama, and speech and language support contexts. He makes an engaging gift for a wide age range.
• How does a hand puppet like Squelch help children with dyslexia?
  Puppets support children with dyslexia by encouraging oral language, storytelling, and verbal communication in a playful, low-pressure way. Children who find reading and writing challenging often respond well to drama-based and play-based learning. Using a puppet character like Squelch can make narrative exercises, vocabulary building, and speaking practice feel engaging rather than difficult.
• Can Squelch be used in a school or classroom setting?
  Yes. Squelch is well suited to classroom use, particularly for literacy sessions, circle time, drama activities, and speech and language support. The ECO Sockette format is easy to use without any setup, and the puppet's playful character makes him an effective engagement tool across EYFS, KS1, and SEN settings.
• Is the Squelch puppet made from eco-friendly materials?
  Yes. Squelch is part of The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range, which is made using eco-friendly materials. This makes him a responsible choice for schools and families looking for sustainably produced toys and resources.
• What age is the Squelch ECO Sockettes puppet designed for?
  Squelch is suitable from 18 months. He is particularly well suited to children in the 18 months to 7 years range, covering nursery through to Year 2, though his appeal extends to older children and adults in creative and educational contexts.
• How big is the Squelch swamp monster puppet?
  Squelch measures approximately 38cm in height, 14cm in width, and 13cm in depth. This makes him a comfortable size for small hands to operate and easy to store in a classroom puppet box or on a shelf at home.
• Does the Squelch puppet make a good gift for a child?
  Yes. Squelch makes a distinctive and genuinely playful gift for children aged 18 months and over. His cheeky swamp monster character, squeaky tongue, and eco-friendly construction set him apart from standard soft toys, and he can be enjoyed by children and adults alike in imaginative play, storytelling, and creative learning.