Back To School Story and Project

Summer Vacation Is Coming To A Close...

At Back To School time, The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, is a perfect story to prepare young children for being away from you while at school.

Chester the Racoon is apprehensive about leaving his mother for his first day of school. She assures him of her love and then kisses his hand. She tells him that when he misses her during the day to open up his hand and remember the kiss she placed there.

Katherine's Pre-school teacher Miss Margaret, shared this story on the first day of class.Since then, I have read this to my girls every Back To School Time. Whether your children are excited or apprehensive about the newness of school, this is a great book to enjoy together.

Below are samples of two Kissing Hand Cookies. These can be made at home in connection with this book (a great project to close the summer with) or, if you are a teacher, these could be the snack on the first day of school after you read this book to your class ( a perfect assignment for an eager new Room Mom--you have enough to do for the first day).

An alternative to cookies is to have each child make a painted hand print with a cut out heart glued to the palm of the hand. This is a wonderful first day of school keepsake.
My girls and I have a "Kissing Hand" signal we give each other when we say good bye at school. After we hug and say good bye, we point to our palms. Just another way we connect and remind each other of our love.