This book has been a lifesaver in teaching my toddler that hands are for things like hugging and helping—not smacking, swatting, or auditioning for toddler fight club. The Best Behavior series nails it again with simple words and pictures that somehow cut through the chaos and keep my kid engaged.
The format is genius: start with what hands are for (“helping mommy clean up the million toys you dumped out”), then explain what they’re not for (“hitting mom because she dared to say no to a third snack”). It’s clear, gentle, and exactly what we needed to curb the tiny tornado of hands flying at inappropriate moments.
We’ve even started using the book’s format in everyday life. “What are hands for?” gets a thoughtful response, while “What are they NOT for?” earns a little head tilt like they’re really pondering their choices. Anytime there’s a slip-up, out comes the book, and it’s like a magical toddler reboot.
If your kid is testing the boundaries of what hands can do (spoiler: it’s not hitting), this book is a must-have. It’s effective and has definitely made our house a more peaceful place.
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From the Publisher
Hands Are Not for Hitting
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.
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.
Feet Are Not for Kicking
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Germs Are Not for Sharing
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Hands Are Not for Hitting
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Tails Are Not for Pulling
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Teeth Are Not for Biting
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Screen Time Is Not Forever
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| Customer Reviews |
2,209
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1,153
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9,358
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1,063
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6,057
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115
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| Price | $7.59 | $8.99 | $6.55 | $8.99 | $9.29 | $8.41 |
| Available in Paperback and Board Book | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| English and Spanish edition available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Helpful tips for teachers, caregivers, and parents included | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Best Behavior Series
Positive Behaviors Guide
With simple words and lively illustrations, capture your child's attention and encourage them to take these lessons with them wherever they go.
Lively Full-Color Illustrations
Help young children learn how to practice their best behaviors with brightly colored illustrations.
Helpful Tips
All books include helpful tips for parents and caregivers on how to help young children learn to display kind and appropriate behaviors.
Great Tool For Parents Trying to Teach Appropriate Behavior
Update September 2nd 2019:After a few weeks of using this book I can say it has for sure worked. I changed the stars from a 4 to a 5. My son wants to read it every night and will repeat after me after I said “hands are not for hitting”. When he does try to hit now I repeat that snippet from the book to him and he instantly realizes that it was a no no and repeats the snippet back. We’ve seen a great reduction in hitting/pushing/aggressive behavior since using this book. I highly recommend itOriginal August 16th:My 2 year old toddler is delayed and his tantrums are epic meltdowns due to a lack of communication skills. Some of these chaotic meltdowns involves him hitting. We have worked really hard and used numerous tools to get him to understand that hitting is not okay.This book is a very colorful tool that helps make the lessons more tangible for a child with receptive language difficulties. Pictures make everything a bit easier for my child to grasp and I was able to sign along to some of the simple phrases for him to understand better.I agree with another reviewer that this book is too long and too much for a child under 2. I’d even go as far and say this is better for the 3 and up range and I wish I would’ve tried the board book first. However, I do like that this is a book he can grow into and have for years to come.Hands are not for hitting also has a lesson for parents and information in the back of the book. If your child has issues with hitting this is a great tool to try to get them more involved in the learning process of what is appropriate behavior for our hands. I can’t say if it really helped or not at this time since we’ve only had one read through, but it is aBook I will for sure be reading at every bedtime. It’s a great book and I highly recommend it.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2025
- Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2019
Update September 2nd 2019:
Great Tool For Parents Trying to Teach Appropriate Behavior
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2019
After a few weeks of using this book I can say it has for sure worked. I changed the stars from a 4 to a 5. My son wants to read it every night and will repeat after me after I said “hands are not for hitting”. When he does try to hit now I repeat that snippet from the book to him and he instantly realizes that it was a no no and repeats the snippet back. We’ve seen a great reduction in hitting/pushing/aggressive behavior since using this book. I highly recommend it
Original August 16th:
My 2 year old toddler is delayed and his tantrums are epic meltdowns due to a lack of communication skills. Some of these chaotic meltdowns involves him hitting. We have worked really hard and used numerous tools to get him to understand that hitting is not okay.
This book is a very colorful tool that helps make the lessons more tangible for a child with receptive language difficulties. Pictures make everything a bit easier for my child to grasp and I was able to sign along to some of the simple phrases for him to understand better.
I agree with another reviewer that this book is too long and too much for a child under 2. I’d even go as far and say this is better for the 3 and up range and I wish I would’ve tried the board book first. However, I do like that this is a book he can grow into and have for years to come.
Hands are not for hitting also has a lesson for parents and information in the back of the book. If your child has issues with hitting this is a great tool to try to get them more involved in the learning process of what is appropriate behavior for our hands. I can’t say if it really helped or not at this time since we’ve only had one read through, but it is a
Book I will for sure be reading at every bedtime. It’s a great book and I highly recommend it.
Images in this review
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Top reviews from other countries
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- Lavina AnkitaReviewed in India on September 14, 2024
Worth buying for kids who hits
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