Keeping My Hands to Myself: A Social Story About Keeping Hands to Self

Read a short social story about respecting other people’s bodies and belongings. Simple first-person pages introduce keeping hands to oneself during classroom routines.
Grades
Pre-K–1
Pages
10
File type
PDF
Preparation
Print ready

Updated Jan 12, 2024

Subject
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
Topic
Social story, Autism
Resource types
Activities
Preparation
Print ready

Product description

From the author

Presenting our "Keeping My Hands to Myself" Social Story, a thoughtful and educational resource designed to assist children, particularly those on the autistic spectrum, in understanding and navigating social situations. Social stories employ a patient and reassuring tone, making complex social cues more accessible and less overwhelming for children.

Understanding social expectations and appropriate behaviors is crucial for children, and this social story addresses the specific challenge of keeping hands to oneself. While designed with a focus on children who may struggle with touching or poking others or handling personal boundaries, the story is applicable to any child encountering difficulties in understanding social skills or cues.

The narrative unfolds in a manner that gently guides children through the concept of personal space and the importance of respecting the boundaries of others. The story helps children grasp the impact of their actions on others and promotes self-awareness, empathy, and appropriate social behaviors.

Social stories are versatile tools that offer support beyond specific diagnoses, making them valuable resources for any child encountering challenges in understanding social situations or concepts. This particular social story not only addresses the immediate concern of keeping hands to oneself but also instills valuable lessons about empathy, communication, and respecting the personal space of others.

In essence, our "Keeping My Hands to Myself" Social Story is a bridge to improved social understanding and effective communication, fostering a sense of security and confidence in children as they navigate social interactions.

These books should be used over and over to reinforce the point so I would suggest either putting the pages into a display book or laminating and binding them.

Clipart images courtesy of Kari Bolt.

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

  • Recognize personal-space boundaries

  • Identify an appropriate place for hands during a group routine

Teaching tips

  • Practice alternatives that meet the child’s movement or sensory needs while respecting others’ space.

Skills covered

  • Personal-space awareness

  • Classroom self-management

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Resource details

Concepts & topics

Core concepts

  • Personal space

  • Respecting belongings

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