Twinkle ECO Sockettes Unicorn Hand Puppet by The Puppet Company

The Puppet Company Twinkle ECO Sockettes Unicorn is a 38cm hand puppet designed for children aged 18 months and over. Made from eco-friendly materials, Twinkle is a magical unicorn character featuring a sparkling horn, vibrant striped patterns, a friendly embroidered face, and a squeaky tongue. She is designed to inspire imaginative play, creative storytelling, and oral language development in young children.

How Twinkle 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 easier to engage and talk through a puppet character. Twinkle's colourful, magical personality makes her especially effective as a creative prompt for storytelling, vocabulary building, and expressive language activities.

Her squeaky tongue adds an element of playful surprise that draws children in and keeps them engaged. The ECO Sockette format means she fits over the hand like a sock puppet, making her intuitive to use from the very first moment. At 38cm, she is a comfortable and manageable size for small hands.

Why Twinkle works well in schools and classrooms

• Wide age range: Suitable from 18 months, Twinkle works across nursery, EYFS, and Key Stage 1 settings without needing separate products for different age groups.
• Supports speech and language development: Puppets are used by speech and language therapists and class teachers to encourage verbal communication in children who are reluctant to speak or who are building confidence with language.
• Literacy and storytelling across the curriculum: A unicorn character provides a natural hook for fantasy and narrative writing, creative drama, and reading comprehension activities.
• Ready to use immediately: No setup or special skills required — any adult or child can pick Twinkle up and start playing, making her easy to deploy in busy classroom environments.
• Eco-conscious resource: Made from eco-friendly materials, Twinkle is a responsible purchase that supports school sustainability goals.

Brilliant for home use too

Parents looking for a gift that sparks imagination and encourages active, screen-free play will find Twinkle genuinely engaging. Children with dyslexia or learning differences often thrive with play-based activities, and a puppet character can turn storytelling, reading practice, and creative expression into something they actively look forward to.

Why puppets support early learning

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 and literacy skills. For children with dyslexia, developing strong oral language alongside reading is particularly important, and puppets provide a low-pressure, high-engagement way to build both confidence and capability.

A thoughtful, purposeful addition to any collection

Whether you are building a classroom puppet resource, looking for a speech and language support tool, or searching for a gift that will genuinely be played with, Twinkle is a lovely choice. Take a look, and get in touch if you have any questions.

• Character: Twinkle, a magical unicorn with a sparkling horn, vibrant striped patterns, and a friendly embroidered face
• Type: ECO Sockette hand puppet — fits over the hand like a sock puppet for intuitive, easy use from 18 months
• Squeaky tongue feature: Built-in squeaky tongue adds playful, interactive engagement for young children
• Embroidered face: Detailed, friendly embroidered facial features that are durable and safe 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: PC007043
• Package contents: 1 x Twinkle ECO Sockettes unicorn hand puppet
• Retail price: £19.99

• What is the Twinkle ECO Sockettes hand puppet?
  The Twinkle ECO Sockettes hand puppet is a magical unicorn character made by The Puppet Company, designed for children aged 18 months and over. Measuring 38cm tall, Twinkle features a sparkling horn, vibrant striped patterns, a friendly embroidered face, and a squeaky tongue. She is crafted from eco-friendly materials and fits over the hand like a sock puppet for easy use.
• Who is the Twinkle unicorn puppet suitable for?
  Twinkle is suitable for children from 18 months upwards, making her appropriate for nursery, Reception, and Key Stage 1 settings as well as home use. She is particularly popular with young children who love magical and fantasy characters, and she works equally well in a classroom puppet corner or at home for imaginative play and storytelling.
• How does a puppet like Twinkle help children with dyslexia?
  Puppets support children with dyslexia by encouraging oral language, storytelling, and verbal communication in a playful, low-pressure setting. Children who find reading and writing difficult often respond well to drama-based and play-based learning. Using a puppet character like Twinkle can make storytelling, vocabulary practice, and narrative exercises feel engaging and enjoyable rather than challenging.
• Can the Twinkle puppet be used in school or early years settings?
  Yes. Twinkle is well suited to classroom and early years settings, particularly for literacy sessions, circle time, imaginative play, and speech and language support. The ECO Sockette design requires no setup and is easy for both adults and children to use, making her a practical resource for busy classroom environments across EYFS and KS1.
• Is the Twinkle ECO Sockettes puppet made from eco-friendly materials?
  Yes. Twinkle is part of The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range, which is made using eco-friendly materials. This makes her a sustainable choice for schools, nurseries, and families who want to make environmentally responsible purchasing decisions.
• What age is the Twinkle unicorn puppet designed for?
  Twinkle is suitable from 18 months. She is particularly well suited to children in the 18 months to 7 years age range, covering nursery through to Year 2, though her appeal extends to older children and adults in creative, storytelling, and educational contexts.
• How big is the Twinkle ECO Sockettes unicorn puppet?
  Twinkle measures approximately 38cm in height, 14cm in width, and 13cm in depth. This makes her a comfortable size for small hands to operate and straightforward to store in a classroom puppet box or on a shelf at home.
• Does the Twinkle puppet make a good gift for a child?
  Yes. Twinkle makes a distinctive and imaginative gift for children aged 18 months and over. Her magical unicorn character, sparkling horn, squeaky tongue, and eco-friendly construction make her a thoughtful alternative to standard soft toys. She can be enjoyed in imaginative play, storytelling, and creative learning by children and adults alike.