In early childhood, sticky situations happen every day. A toy won’t work the way a child expected. A zipper gets stuck. A block tower falls for the third time. Big feelings show up fast—and little bodies don’t yet have the tools to know what to do next.

Have you ever heard a little voice say, “I don’t want to take a nap!” You’re not alone. Many children feel that way, and that’s okay. But rest time is more than just a pause in the day—it’s a powerful opportunity for social-emotional growth and learning.

When it comes to supporting preschoolers in developing big social emotional learning skills, sometimes the simplest tools have the biggest impact. Puppets are more than just playful props—they're powerful tools for connection, communication, and confidence-building in early childhood settings.

Preschoolers experience big feelings in tiny bodies—joy that bubbles over, frustration that feels enormous, and sadness that can show up out of nowhere. As adults, we’ve had years of practice understanding and expressing our emotions (and we’re still learning!).