Shape based stick puppets are inclusively appropriate since they have therapeutic and cognitive development values

In pre-schools and schools for children with special needs, puppets need to be the part of playroom and education therapy for cognitive and language development.

However, the puppets should be simple - not gaudily colourful and detailed - and they must be used with a protocol to meet the needs with therapeutic value and not for entertainment. In other words, the puppets should be designed to perform psychological and cognitive functions.  Teachers need to design puppets for clinical use with proper script for performance.

My experience informs that shape-dominant stick puppets are good enough as they can be easily and quickly made as per needs and used as shown in the inset picture, These puppets have been designed by Dr Lalit Kishore and Vibhanshu Gaur of Disha  assisted by Neha Saini.