How Letter People Puppets,
Helped My Granddaughter
For over 24 years as a first and second grade teacher, I watched the Letter People alphabet puppets work wonders with young children, across the hall in kindergarten, until one year I found myself teaching a kindergarten first grade combo class. Every teacher’s biggest challenge. The Alphabet Puppets became my best friends and were the heart of my classroom.
I packed those little puppet patterns away, not sure why, maybe because they were so cute— never imagining I would use them again. But then my granddaughter needed help…I was grateful I saved them.
My Granddaughter’s Story
When my granddaughter was getting ready for kindergarten, she was extremely delayed in speech. She spoke in a way that even many family members struggled to understand. Her parents were very worried that her teacher and classmates wouldn’t understand her and that she might be teased.
She attended preschool but wasn’t making much progress with letters or sounds. So her parents asked if I would tutor her.
I pulled out my old Letter People puppet patterns — because honestly, that’s what I knew best.
We started simple:
The ABC Train
Daily alphabet drills
Making one puppet at a time
As we cut, glued, and built each puppet, we talked constantly. At first I didn’t always understand what she was saying, but as her grandma I smiled, nodded, and kept her engaged. The puppets became the bridge.
Week by week, her letter recognition grew. Then came the letter sounds. Then blending. The hands-on cutting, gluing, and creating gave her the confidence and fine motor practice she needed.
Today she has just finished 2nd grade. She is a strong reader, loves animals, she just hatched baby chicks, and is doing very well in school. She still has a little trouble with spelling (she missed Nana’s spelling lessons once she started public school!), but overall she is thriving.
Those little puppets were truly a miracle for her language development.
A Note for Busy Moms:
I know how busy you are! Prepping all the Letter People puppets can be very time-consuming — especially when you’re only making one or two at a time. Cutting out all those colors, dealing with paper waste, and trying to be efficient is a lot of work.
That’s why I’ve done the prep work for you.
I’ve created ready-to-print Puppet Packets with teacher shortcuts and efficient layouts so you can spend less time copying and organizing and more time enjoying the learning with your child.
Why I Love Using Letter People Puppets
These hands-on puppets make learning letters and sounds fun and memorable. Children create something fun, which builds confidence and helps with speech, fine motor skills, and letter-sound connections — especially for reluctant or struggling learners.
Note: I know how busy Moms are