Gentle hands

Ages 0 to 2 A grown-up reads and plays along · about 5 minutes

Read together

Gentle hands. Soft, soft, soft.

We pat the cat. We hug the doll.

Do it

1. Take your child's hand and stroke a soft toy, saying “gentle”.
2. Show the difference: “Hitting hurts. Gentle hands are kind.”
3. Practise with a doll or a stuffed animal. Say “thank you” when your child is gentle.
4. Use the same words each time: “gentle hands”.

Talk about it

• Who can we be gentle with?
• How does a hug feel?

For the grown-up

Toddlers hit and grab because they do not yet have the words or the control. Short, calm, repeated guidance works better than long talks. Show what to do instead.

Mark as done

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Where this comes from

This is a play and practice activity with no factual claims to source.

Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed. Please read it before sharing it with a child.