Join us for real conversations on mom therapy and nervous system regulation. We curiously explore how puppets lower pressure and help kids process stress safely. Support your own baseline with the Mind Circuit App : Ease and its gentle BLS mood tracking.

What You'll Discover:

• Connection before correction

• Building trust safely

Using Puppetry to Support Children's Emotional and Behavioral Development

Discover how relational puppetry can transform the way adults connect with children, especially in understanding and responding to challenging behaviors. In this episode, Helen Meurs shares her innovative approach that uses puppets to create safe spaces, foster relationships, and support nervous system regulation.

Main Topics Covered:

• The concept of relational puppetry and its role in supporting the nervous system

• How challenging behaviors are expressions of underlying stress or communication

• The importance of understanding a child’s perspective rather than reacting outwardly

• Practical ways to incorporate puppetry into daily interactions with children

• Overcoming barriers and misconceptions about using puppetry with children

• The impact of using puppets to lower stress thresholds and build trust

• How puppetry encourages children to share more openly and feel safe

Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to relational puppetry and its benefits

02:19 - Understanding challenging behaviors as communication signals

03:19 - The importance of perceiving the child's perspective

04:38 - How puppetry creates a safe, connection-building environment

05:53 - Using puppets to lower the threshold for honest communication

06:52 - The significance of puppet gender and expectations in engagement

07:49 - Building trust: puppets as friends, not educators

09:10 - Helping children see adults as

28:02 - Connecting with Helen for training and resources

29:15 - Building safety and emotional regulation through puppetry

30:44 - The art of creating a puppet that feels safe and familiar

33:03 - Success stories of children transformed by puppetry

34:00 - Encouraging a shift in perspective on puppetry's power

Connect with Helen Meurs:

[Social Media](https://facebook.com/hellemers | https://instagram.com/hellemers)

Additional Notes:

Puppetry can be a powerful tool to regulate and soothe the nervous system in children

Overcoming adult resistance relies on understanding the safety and relationship-building aspects

Start small: a simple sock puppet can be enough to begin transforming interactions

This isn't therapy or a how-to show—it's two real humans noticing what's showing up and trying to be kinder to ourselves. If you're tired of perfectly staged mom content and want authentic conversation about women's health, mental health, and motherhood, this is your space. This conversation speaks to women navigating stress, advocacy for their own health, and the invisible nervous-system load so many carry quietly.

Support the Show:If this episode helped you understand your wiring a little better, please follow the show and leave a 5-star review. It helps us reach more people looking for their own "Aha!" moments.

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Disclaimer: "Mom therapy" discussions are purely educational and do not replace clinical advice.