Helen Meurs - Puppetologist & Puppet-Based Trainer

What to do when you introduce a puppet? I tell you in this video

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Helen Meurs - Puppetologist & Puppet-Based Trainer

What if the perfect puppets is already in your closet?

I get this question all the time:
“Which puppet should I choose?”

There’s just so much to choose from.
Some puppets are funny.
Others are cute.
Some look like someone you know.
Others are socks with eyes or fuzzy little creatures from another planet.

But in the end, it comes down to one thing:
The right puppet isn’t the prettiest.
Not the most expensive.
Not the most popular.
It’s the one that feels right for you.

That means:
– one that speaks to you,
– that makes you smile,
– that sparks ideas or stories in your mind,
– and that you can imagine children really connecting with.

Here’s what I always tell people:
-Choose a puppet you click with. If you don’t feel that click, a child will feel it too.
-Choose one with a mouth that moves. It makes conversations so much easier.
-And pick one that already makes you smile a little — right now.

That’s usually a good sign.
Still unsure?
Start small. Start simple. Start today!

Just walk to your closet, grab an old sock, and turn it into a simple puppet — something like this. If you want to know how I made this ones, check out this video, it really was easy peasy.

5 months ago | [YT] | 0

Helen Meurs - Puppetologist & Puppet-Based Trainer

How do you help a child take a step… when you're stuck in your own head?

One of my students told me about a little boy who desperately wanted to connect with other children but kept trying in all the "wrong" ways.
She wanted to use her puppet to help him. But she wasn’t sure how.

What should the puppet say?
How do you gently guide a child?
How do you help them walk the path that will actually help?

She kept thinking, doubting, overthinking.
And trying the same thing over and over again.
Just like the boy.

I asked her, “How well does he know your puppet?”
“Well,” she said, “I introduced him, said he’s a friend, and that he could ask him anything.”

That explained a lot.
There was no relationship.
No bond. No trust. And that’s the foundation.

Think of it like building a house — you can’t place the roof before the foundation is solid. If you try, the whole thing crumbles.

In other words: if you want to use the power of puppetry to help a child take steps forward — which is a beautiful idea — the first step is always building a connection between the child and the puppet.

They need to get to know each other.
The child needs to feel: this puppet is on my side. This puppet is a real friend.

Friendship isn’t a word — it’s a feeling.

And that’s where the key lies.
For both the puppet and the child’s behavior.

It all starts with the relationship.
If that’s not real, everything else feels hollow.

So if you want a child to open up,
don’t start with your goal.
Start with connection.

To help you do just that, I created a short, playful course all about building relationships and sparking real friendships — between you and your puppet, the child and the puppet, and between children themselves.
Because play always starts with connection.

Check out Let’s Play — I think you’ll agree: for that price, it’s well worth trying. This is the link: www.helenmeurs.com/puppet-course-for-beginners/

5 months ago | [YT] | 0

Helen Meurs - Puppetologist & Puppet-Based Trainer

There’s a lot happening right now — which means lots of new videos on this channel!
Golden oldies that cover the six questions you can ask yourself before choosing a puppet,
product videos featuring one of my favourite puppet series (also available in the U.S.),
and a super fun activity where JaNee gets to work with prohibition signs.
Will you be watching?

Er is een hoop beweging op het moment en dat levert een hoop video's op dit kanaal op. Golden oldies die gaan over de 6 vragen die je jezelf stellen kunt voordat je een handpop aanschaft, productvideo's van een van de leukste handpop series die ik ken (en die ook in Amerika verkrijgbaar zijn) en een superleuke activiteit waarin JaNee aan de slag gaat met verbodsborden. Ga je ze kijken?

8 months ago | [YT] | 0

Helen Meurs - Puppetologist & Puppet-Based Trainer

Alvast een glimp van de video die volgende week online komt: een video over stemmetjes. Het is de eerste van een reeks over het vinden van een stem voor jouw pop en ik kan alvast verklappen dat het onwijs leuk was om deze te maken.....en dat is er in terug te zien. Stay tuned dus en bekijk ook de video die vandaag gepost is even. Fijne dag!

4 years ago | [YT] | 3

Helen Meurs - Puppetologist & Puppet-Based Trainer

Waar wil jij een video over zien?

4 years ago | [YT] | 0

Helen Meurs - Puppetologist & Puppet-Based Trainer

Brillen en zonnebrillen, ik ben er dol op. Of eigenlijk: ik heb er een zwak voor en moet me altijd inhouden om een modelletje niet gelijk in allerlei verschillende kleuren te kopen. Nu ik op Bonaire woon komen ze goed van pas en kan ik me lekker te buiten gaan aan dit soort accessoires. Volgens mij heb ik nog niet eerder een brillen-video gemaakt......zal ik dat doen? Wat wil je daar dan graag in zien? Laat maar weten😊🌴☀️

4 years ago | [YT] | 3

Helen Meurs - Puppetologist & Puppet-Based Trainer

NIEUWE VIDEO! En die moet je kijken want hierin vertel ik je wat maakt dat kinderen zo makkelijk op een handpop reageren en wat je dus moet doen om die magie te blijven ervaren. Laat me weten wat je ervan vindt.

4 years ago | [YT] | 2