Small Wonders Entertainment
A wonderfully small 501(c)(3)
Our Mission
Through the ancient art of puppetry, Small Wonders Entertainment brings imagination, connection, and joy to people at both ends of the age spectrum. We create interactive, handmade puppet shows for children ages 1–12, as well as specialty performances for older adults, including residents of assisted-living communities and individuals living with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.Our children's programs provide an opportunity for young audiences to experience storytelling in a way that is imaginative, visual, interactive, and personal. Revenue from these performances and workshops helps support our ability to provide performances to senior and community audiences. These performances are thoughtfully created around the principles of reminiscence therapy, using familiar stories, music, imagery, puppets, and other sensory experiences to encourage conversation and connections with memories. The goal is not simply to entertain. It is to create moments of recognition—to see a face light up, hear a story from long ago, or watch someone who has been quiet suddenly begin to smile and engage.In a world increasingly filled with changing technology and digital entertainment, Small Wonders believes there is still tremendous value in gathering people together for something handmade and alive.A puppet is not a screen. It is something created by hand, brought to life by another person, and shared directly with an audience.That human connection the heart of Small Wonders Entertainment.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Joan studied painting at Pels Academy in New York, Boston University School of Fine Arts, and the University of Texas at Austin School of Fine Arts. Joan Klasson has been an art teacher in the acclaimed Eanes School District since 1978 and a member of the Puppeteers of America since 1979. Taking great pride in the unique art form of puppet design and construction, Ms. Klasson brings magical and theatrical pageantry to each performance of Small Wonders.
She began working with elderly patients when her mother was in a nursing facility. She would visit every day and take her out for a drive or a walk. They would call the outing our 'field trips' and explore what was new in Austin, Texas. As they rode in the car, she played music from the 1940 era and watched mom smile through her dementia. She began to understand her experience and became worried, very worried.
It was during this time that I learned about Reminiscence Therapy and all the benefits that it provides. It gave me a tool to reach the almost unreachable.
"We met a woman in one of the facilities who loved my kid puppets, so I committed to creating a show just for her!I designed and created the puppets, wrote the shows, built the sets, and recorded the soundtracks. The show brought her so much joy and me so much reward! To this day I dedicate my work to my mom and my friend’s memory, and all those in need of a smile.
Performing our shows provides me with a tremendous amount of gratification. I have seen what happens to our audience time and time again: clients engaged, thinking, smiling, and laughing.These small performances, these small wonders, bring moments of fun to this forgotten and important community. I'm lucky enough to be a part of something greater."
And for children? This can be an introduction to imagination, storytelling, creativity, and the magic of live performance.
We want to create a moment that stays with someone.
A child who discovers the joy of making something with their hands, or a senior who hears a familiar song that resurfaces memories from a time long ago.
A family member who sees someone they love smile.
Reminiscence Therapy
Sammie T. Walker Ph.D.
The term Reminiscence Therapy (RT) was coined in the 1960s by Dr. Robert Butler, a prominent geriatrician and psychiatrist (Bhar et al., 2022). Additionally, Bhar et al. (2022) mentioned that Dr. Butler described RT as a "universal occurrence in older people of an inner experience or mental process of reviewing one's life".Reminiscence Therapy was created with the intent to help individuals in their later years cope with memory and mood problems and the discomfiture of aging. According to Khan et al. (2022), therapist use artifacts, to include but not limited to, puppets, storytelling, photos, and music to motivate patients to talk about their past experiences.In the 1990s, a 12-week controlled study suggested that RT had a significant positive impact on a person's ability to communicate, socialize, self-care, their mood, and well-being. Thirty-one patients, or 50%, were assigned to a control group and the reminder 50% were assigned to an intervention (Duru & Kapucu, 2016). Also, Duru and Kapucu (2016) stated that the results from the control group improved the patients' cognition and systems of depression.Reminiscence Therapy had a positive effect on patients' self-esteem and intellectual functioning. RT is a valuable, noninvasive psychosocial intervention that assists elderly patients in significantly minimizing depression symptoms (Bhar et al., 2022; Duru & Kapucu, 2016; Khan et al., 2022).
The phenomenon that encompasses aging continues to be a global issue. Approximately one quarter of all aging adults experience a neurological or psychological disorder such as anxiety, dementia, and depression. Information taken from the World Health Organization (WHO) website suggested that individuals 65 years or older increased from 524 million in 2010 to 1.4 billion (World Health Organization, 2023).
Social isolation and exclusion are common problems amongst elderly patients. Reminiscence Therapy aims to diminish social isolation and exclusion by empowering patients to adapt to their social environment by helping them remember their past lived experiences and accomplishments. Reminiscence Therapy is practiced by a wide range of professionals who are involved in senior citizens' care.
Healthcare continues to be a critical social burden for aging adults. It is estimated that more than 26% of older adults will experience at least one mental disorder or disability. Reminiscence Therapy can assist patients with and without mental health problems.
Reminiscence Therapy offers patients an opportunity to relive past memories from an earlier and happier time in their lives. Seeing objects or hearing sounds can inspire a renewed sense of meaning and purpose in the lives of elders who were gradually losing their cognitive skills and memory.
Reminiscence Therapy can be in a formal or informal setting with family members, other individuals, or in a group setting.
Individuals who participated in Reminiscence Therapy reported having better self-esteem, are more optimistic about their future, and are more positive about their social interactions.
Some components of RT include simple activities and advanced therapies that are aimed to invoke memories from a distant past into present awareness. As a result, storytelling can help individuals feel less isolated and more connected to the present.
Seeing objects or hearing sounds can inspire a renewed sense of meaning and purpose...
Reminiscence Therapy offers patients an opportunity to relive past memories from an earlier and happier time in their lives. Seeing objects or hearing sounds can inspire a renewed sense of meaning and purpose in the lives of elders who were gradually losing their cognitive skills and memory.
"I am fortunate enough to have witnessed so many memories coming forth. A past happiness remembered, a long ago time that is transported to the here and now. "
