Online Puppets Help & Resources

Online Puppets Instructions

To get started, ask your client to browse through the collection of available puppet figures and backgrounds on the right hand side and explore the functionality. If you choose, at the bottom of the scene you can select full screen for a wider view.

Manipulating the Figures

To insert an image onto the stage or desired background, simply click on your figure. To resize a figure, drag on any of the orange handles around your selection. The top center circular dot around your image allows you to rotate left and right.

Understanding Puppet Controls

On the top you will find more buttons to enhance how you can animate the puppets:

Use the hug button to have two figures turn towards each other.
Selecting speak opens your figures mouth.
Use hit to see how a figure would hit another.
Use jump to see a figure jump.
Use copy to duplicate the image, you can copy as many times as you want to create your scene (i.e. many children in a classroom in the background).
Use flip to have your figure face the other direction. By default, each puppet will hit and hug towards the right of the stage (i.e. to have figures face each other).
Using the back and front buttons you can bring images forward and back. Your newest image selection will always begin on top of the other figures, you can use these controls to adjust.
Use delete to remove a single image.
Use the save at the bottom of the scene to save the .jpg image to your desktop.
Press clear to start again

Controlling Multiple Puppets Together

Multiple puppets can be controlled together by selecting two or more puppets at once. This can be done by one of the following methods:

Click on the stage and drag your mouse to draw a box around the puppets you wish to control together, then release the mouse button.
Add additional puppets one at a time by holding the shift key on your keyboard and then clicking on each additional puppet.
Click on the all button (note this will select all of the puppets on the stage).

Puppets Using the Oaklander Model Course

The Oaklander Model uses puppets for children to project their inner experience, wishes, feelings, and/or past, present and future situations in their lives. Some therapists use puppets to assess clients’ process, emotions, and functional age.

This course includes:

An introduction to using puppets as a therapeutic tool
a walkthrough of using Online Puppets, including how to screen share during teletherapy
how to use puppets with the Oaklander Model
a demonstration of using online puppets virtually with a child
a demonstration of using physical puppets with a child
A demonstration of using an online sand tray virtually with a child
Three demonstrations using the Sand Tray with children featuring follow up questions & answers and reflections from Dr. Karen Fried.
a showcase of different puppets
interviews with Violet Oaklander about using puppets

After completing this course you will be able to use an actual or online puppets using the Oaklander Model.