Hands Are Not for Hitting / Las Manos No Son Para Pegar (Best Behavior) (Spanish and English Edition)
Best Behavior Series
illustrations by
on Goodreads (610)
What’s inside...
Hands are for helping, learning, playing, and much more. Remind children of the many positive actions their hands can take, from saying hello to making music to brushing their teeth at bedtime. Children learn that violence is never okay, discover alternatives to hitting, and explore ways to manage strong feelings. Includes tips for parents and caregivers.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-7
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you feel when someone uses their hands to be kind?
Can you think of different ways we can use our hands to help others?
What are some things you should do if you feel like hitting?
Why do you think it's important to use our hands positively?
What are some good things your hands did today?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, maintain a calm and encouraging tone to make your child feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences.
Use examples from the book to illustrate positive uses of hands, and relate them to real-life situations your child might encounter.
Encourage your child to come up with alternative actions to hitting when they are feeling upset or angry, reinforcing the book’s message.
Praise your child for thoughtful responses and kind behavior, to reinforce the learning from the book.
After reading, spend some time together doing an activity that involves using hands in a fun and loving way, like drawing or building blocks, to practically apply the book's message.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Using Hands Positively
Explanation: The book teaches children that hands are not tools for hitting, but instead can be used for more constructive activities like playing, creating, and expressing love.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this message by engaging in activities like drawing, building with blocks, or hugging a family member, using their hands to show kindness and creativity.
Example Lesson: Understanding and Managing Emotions
Explanation: It highlights the importance of handling emotions such as anger and frustration in non-violent ways.
Real-World Application: When feeling upset or angry, children can remember the lessons from the book and choose to use words to express their feelings or find calming activities like deep breathing or counting to ten.
Example Lesson: Respect for Others
Explanation: The book encourages respect and empathy by teaching kids that hitting hurts others and is not an acceptable behavior.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children develop an understanding of personal boundaries and the impact of their actions on others, which is crucial in social interactions at school and within the family.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Children learn to look for peaceful solutions and to communicate effectively rather than using physical force.
Real-World Application: In real-world scenarios, children can use their words to explain how they feel or what they want, instead of acting out physically when conflicts arise.