Hands are for learning—for counting, Hands are for playing music—for tying, painting, and asking questions snapping, clapping, or tapping out a beat. Can you clap a beat? Give it a try! My hands help me comb. My hands help me comb. My hands help me comb my hair; my hands help me comb. In this bright, inviting, durable board book, simple words and full-color illustrations teach these important concepts in ways even very young children can understand.

This is such a good book with a very important message to children and grown ups alike. It tells of all the ways hands can be used but they are never to be used for hitting anyone. There's a note at the end A Word to Grown-Ups talking about violence in our culture and discussion starters and activities which I also enjoyed. It has lovely, inclusive illustrations. Art: Have the children go to easel painting in pairs. Tie the paint brushes together so that they can create a painting together. Talk about how it makes them feel to try to paint a picture together (happy, silly, frustrated, mad, etc…) Music: Sing and use gestures top the song “Skinamarinky Dinky Dink”: Skinamarinky dink, Skinamarinky doo, I love you. Skinamarinky dinky dink, Skinamarinky doo, I love you. I love you in the morning, and in the afternoon. I love you in the evening, and underneath the moon. Skinamarinky dink, Skinamarinky doo…I LOVE YOU (I really mean it), I love you too! We read this one with my toddler because he was starting to hit when he got frustrated with us. I am happy to report that this book definitely did help with the problem. Now when we see him getting ready to lash out, we say, "What are our hands for?" and he usually comes up with something from the book as a response. Not too shabby!After a while, you’ll feel better. How do you use your hands to play? When that happens, you and your hands can play again. Hands are for all kinds of playing. There’s some thing hands are NOT for. How does it feel when someone hits? Hands are not for hitting. Hitting isn’t friendly. It hurts a person’s body. It hurts a person’s feelings, too. Hitting I’m Sorry. Hands are for helping. There are many ways you can use your hands to be a helper. How do you make yourself handy? It's never too soon for children to learn that violence is never okay, hands can do many good things, and everyone is capable of positive, loving actions.

Sometimes people want to be the boss of Have you felt these ways? Maybe you wanted someone. to hit someone. But hands are not for hitting. Make-Believe: teach the children how to make shadow puppets. You can build a tent in the classroom and have children go in the tent with flashlights. One child can make a shadow puppet and the other children shine their flashlights on the shadow puppet so that the shadow is displayed on the wall or the side of the tent. Children can take turns making up stories go with their shadow puppets. Discuss how sometimes shadows can be scary and sometimes they are really funny. Idea of the Day: How We Use Our Hands to Make MusicGive children several scenarios and play a game of “What could you do instead of hitting?” Examples below: Introduce the concept of the day by having the children think about the many different ways we use our hands to talk. Recall from the story the ways our hands can talk: hands wave hello and goodbye, hands shake when meeting, hands draw and write, they gesture “come here” and they point, clap, count, hug, give high-fives, make a promise… Discuss how we can also talk with our hands using sign language. Demonstrate a few simple signs or show photographs and have the children imitate the signs. Encourage the children to try to use signs throughout the day to request “food”, “all done” or “more”

Hands are for greeting and communicating. You can wave to a friend. There are many friendly ways you can use your You can draw pictures or write hands to communicate. words. You can shake hands. Try it now. Shake hands with the person next to you. Hands are for taking care of you. They’re for putting on pajamas, washing your face, combing your hair, brushing your teeth, and turning out the light at bedtime. What do you do to take care of you? Hands are for working together. Hands are for playing, learning, doing, and building. Hands are not for hitting. Hitting is never ok. So what can you do when you and your friend don’t get along? As a story review, ask the children “What can you do with your hands?” As the children’s answer, write or draw a picture to make a class list of “what our hands can do.” The children can also demonstrate what their hands can do and you can take photographs of the children in action. The photographs can be added to the class list and posted. While reading the story, demonstrate the suggestions throughout the book: handshaking, clapping, blowing kisses, pointing, etc. Children can practice what we can do with our hands.Created in response to requests from parents, preschool teachers, and childcare providers, this book belongs everywhere young children are. Includes tips for parents and caregivers. The best book about teaching manners. I found it really helpful when my first born was just 6 month old. And after that my all kids followed the same book. And we used to say whenever any child is angry .. Hands are not for .... Hitting.” My hands help me brush. My hands help me brush. My hands help me brush my teeth; my hands help me brush. While reading the story, have children talk about how they might feel when someone hits them. Help them problem solve by coming up with solutions of what they can do instead of hitting. Write feelings and solutions on a chart. Hands come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Hands are for saying hello. There are lots of things your hands are meant to do.