SRF Training: Using Puppets for Social and Emotional Learning

Pelican Talk Speech Therapy Resources ABN 87 985 918 338

Learn practical puppetry skills to help young children explore social and emotional learning

Sessions are open to the public although they are also included on the School Readiness Funding menu (VIC) and are available through Kindy Uplift funding (QLD). 2026 SRF Puppet Training Options (includes options and pricing)

Sessions can be run individually for services

We can come to you and present at your centre.

Sessions can be remote

Alternatively you can complete the training remotely via Zoom.

You can attend a session

You can choose to attend one of our full-day training sessions at our training venue in Ivanhoe, Melbourne.

Training Options – Dates and Times

Option 1

Host A Whole Staff Training At Your Centre

Using Puppets for Social and Emotional Learning
  • We visit you at your centre
  • Training is delivered in one day
  • Whole staff training
  • Contact us to lock in a date
Starting from: $2,163.00
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Option 2

Organise Zoom Training for Your Whole Centre

Using Puppets for Social and Emotional Learning
  • Online training via Zoom
  • Training over 1, 2 or 3 sessions
  • Whole staff training
  • Available after hours
  • Contact us to organise dates and times
Starting from: $2,039.00
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Option 3

Attend a Training Day in Melbourne

Using Puppets for Social and Emotional Learning
  • Training in Ivanhoe, Victoria
  • Training over one day
  • Send along one, two or more staff
Choose from one of the training days below. Note that these book out quickly:
  • Friday 13th March, 2026 10.00 am – 4.15pm
  • Thursday 14th May, 2026 10.00 am – 4.15pm
  • Friday 15th May, 2026 10.00 am – 4.15pm
  • Thursday 6th August, 2026 10.00 am – 4.15pm
  • Friday 7th August, 2026 10.00 am – 4.15pm
Starting from: $437.00
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Option 4

Join Online Training That We Host

Using Puppets for Social and Emotional Learning
  • Online training via Zoom with registrants from other centres
  • Each series consists of 2 or 3 sessions
  • Each participant must complete all sessions in the series
  • Register one, two or more staff
Choose from one of the training days below. Note that these book out quickly:
  • Series 1: Tuesdays: Feb 24th, March 17th 2026. 2.30 – 5.15 pm AEST
  • Series 2: Wednesdays: March 18th, March 25th 2026. 2026. 4.00 – 6:45pm AEST
  • Series 3: Thursdays: April 30th, May 7th 2026. 3.00 – 5.45 pm AEST
  • Series 4: Fridays: May 1st, May 8th 2026. 2.30 – 5.15 pm AEST
  • Series 5: Wednesdays: June 3rd, June 10th, June 17th 5.30 – 7.20 pm AEST
Starting from: $406.00
Select Options

Training has never been so fun!

Don't worry! This is not about performing puppet shows! We train you how to feel comfortable using a puppet as a tool for learning.

There's certainly a lot of fun in this training. Participants learn about the magic of puppetry and how to make a puppet "come alive”" and are given countless real-life examples of puppets being used successfully with children. A puppet package can be included in your training – each puppet, being carefully selected to address specific learning goals. (You can use your own). The training goes for 5.5 hours plus breaks. Download Brochure

But it’s not just a day of playing with puppets…

Participants develop an indepth knowledge relating to emotional and social development and the challenges that some children face. They learn how to promote the skills, behaviours and knowledge that underpin emotional regulation and healthy social interactions. We cover emotional trauma, language issues, neurodivergence and much more. The knowledge gained on the day can easily be applied to other sessional activities such as book sharing and pretend play.
emotional trauma
language issues
neurodivergence
emotional regulation

Throughout the training, participants: 

  • Learn how to use hand puppets in a way that is engaging to children (“making a puppet come alive”)
  • Explore the three types of puppet use applicable to the early childhood setting
  • Explore theories of emotional intelligence and its development
  • Enhance your current emotional awareness programming, source authentic resources for sessions
  • Learn about neurodiversity and neurodiversity-affirming practice
  • Learn how to model emotions using a puppet in order to promote a rich emotional vocabulary
  • Learn how to demonstrate emotional regulation using a puppet
  • Explore the Social Puppets program and discuss how implement it within a centre (this is received free with the training)
  • Learn about how to use the Social Sam program (this program is provided free along with the training)
  • Explore current theories of social development and the levels of social understanding necessary for developing successful peer relationships
  • Learn about why children vary in their social and emotional capabilities
  • Learn about Theory of Mind, deficits in Theory of Mind, and how to promote it using a puppet
  • Learn how to set up play-based learning with puppets to further reinforce social and emotional learning
  • Learn how to use a calming puppet
  • Learn the Tommy Turtle calming strategy (for regulating anger, frustration, etc)
  • Learn how to adapt the above learning to other modes of play and book-sharing

The Presenter

Lucia Smith is a speech pathologist with over 30 years of experience working with children across a range of settings.

She incorporates the magic of puppets in her clinical work and loves sharing this knowledge in workshops and conference presentations.

Lucia is the creator of many popular resources used in early childhood and school settings, including "Social Sam", "Social Puppets", "The Speech Sound Set" and "Coco Koala Emotions Cards."