{"product_id":"squelch-eco-sockettes","title":"Squelch – ECO Sockettes","description":"\u003ch2\u003eSquelch ECO Sockettes Swamp Monster Hand Puppet by The Puppet Company\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Squelch supports learning and communication\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePuppets 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Squelch works well in schools and classrooms\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessible from 18 months:\u003c\/strong\u003e Squelch is suitable for nursery settings through to Key Stage 1 and beyond, covering a wide age range with a single product.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupports speech and language sessions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Puppets are used by speech and language therapists and class teachers to encourage verbal communication in children who are reluctant to speak.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrama and storytelling across the curriculum:\u003c\/strong\u003e Squelch is an engaging character for literacy lessons, drama sessions, and circle time activities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEasy to use without prior experience:\u003c\/strong\u003e The ECO Sockette format requires no setup or special skills, meaning any adult or child can pick him up and start playing immediately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEco-conscious choice for schools:\u003c\/strong\u003e Made from eco-friendly materials, Squelch is a responsible purchase that aligns with school sustainability commitments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGreat for home use too\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eParents 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy puppets matter for early development\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eResearch 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eA fun, purposeful addition to any collection\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Puppet Company Limited","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57508788076926,"sku":"TA2399","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0653\/6560\/6649\/files\/Squelch-680x680.jpg?v=1780651481","url":"https:\/\/www.thedyslexiashop.co.uk\/products\/squelch-eco-sockettes","provider":"The Dyslexia Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}