Free Kissing Hand Printables and Educational Resources for Early Childhood Educators and Homeschooling Parents

The Kissing Hand, a classic children’s book by Audrey Penn, serves as a foundational tool for educators and parents addressing separation anxiety and promoting emotional comfort during the transition back to school. The provided source material outlines a variety of free digital resources—often referred to as "freebies"—that extend the book's themes into classroom and homeschool activities. These resources are primarily distributed through educational platforms such as Teachers Pay Teachers, personal educator blogs, and specialized homeschool deal sites. The available materials cover a wide range of subjects, including literacy, mathematics, social-emotional learning, and arts and crafts, targeting students from Pre-K through early elementary grades.

Overview of Available Free Resources

The free resources associated with The Kissing Hand are diverse, designed to reinforce the narrative's message while developing core academic skills. The materials are generally printable PDFs or digital downloads that require no purchase, though some are samples of larger paid units.

Literacy and Social-Emotional Learning Several sources offer resources focused on the emotional core of the book. Source [4] describes a freebie that includes ideas for a "Kissing Hand map," a predictable chart, and a class book, specifically designed for PreK through 2nd grade. This resource aims to facilitate discussion about why the character Chester was nervous and how his mother comforted him. Additionally, Source [2] mentions a "sweet note for students to sign and take home after their first day of school," serving as a keepsake that includes space for a photograph.

For writing and discussion, Source [2] provides a 3-page activity intended to help students identify what brings them comfort. This activity is described as a "great discussion and writing activity" to follow the reading of the book. Furthermore, Source [2] lists a 3-page resource designed to determine students' feelings on the first day of school, described as a "nice icebreaker" and a "cute back to school bulletin board poster."

Mathematics and Number Sense Mathematical extensions are available through dice games and number tracing activities. Source [1] highlights a "Chester Raccoon Roll and Cover" game, which features three different versions to "easily differentiate the numbers your students are comfortable with." This game is intended to build beginning number recognition and number sense. Source [2] offers a packet containing large number cards from 0 to 10, a mini booklet for tracing and writing numbers, and trace-and-write worksheets for numbers 0 to 100.

Fine Motor and Arts Integration Art-based activities include directed drawings and craft projects. Source [6] mentions a "directed drawing" activity for The Kissing Hand, noting that it was created to provide a "new" activity for students who had previously engaged with other Kissing Hand materials. This freebie includes a version where students write or draw a picture of what they love.

Source [3] references a "Kissing Hand Craft Freebie" by Mrs. Jones’ Creation Station, which involves handprints and a poem. Additionally, Source [1] lists "First Day Hershey Kisses Treat Bag Toppers," which are printable toppers for snack-size bags of Hershey's Kisses, intended as a treat for the first day of school.

Sources and Distribution Channels

The distribution of these freebies is concentrated on specific educational platforms and blogs.

Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) TpT is a primary source for high-quality educational materials. Source [2] explicitly mentions a "special milestone FREEBIE" available in a TpT shop, describing it as a 25-page set of "Hooray For A Great Day!" Back To School Coloring Pages. The source also notes that other freebies are parts of larger paid packets, such as a 44-page packet including raccoon sliders for shapes, letters, and numbers. Source [4] lists a coloring page that is a "color by code" activity for capital and lowercase letters, which is part of a larger Kissing Hand unit.

Educator Blogs Individual educators frequently share free resources via personal blogs. Source [1] aggregates various freebies and directs users to click on the name of each freebie to "see where it came from and to download it." Source [6] directs users to a "Facebook Fan Page" for access to the directed drawing freebie under a "Fan Freebies" tab. Source [3] is a blog post compiling free songs, poems, and crafts, including links to specific TpT creators like "Kinder Alphabet" and "Peace, Love & Learning."

Homeschool Deal Aggregators Websites dedicated to curating homeschool freebies serve as another distribution channel. Source [5] is from Free Homeschool Deals, offering a "fun 9-page packet" of printables for preschoolers and kindergarteners. The site also lists a "TON of Homeschool Freebies" in general categories.

Specific Activity Details

Raccoon Sliders and Differentiation Source [2] details a "raccoon slider" activity designed to review standards. The packet includes sliders for shapes, upper and lowercase letters, numbers to 20, and skip counting strips for 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's. This resource is described as part of a jumbo Kissing Hand packet, with a preview included for convenience.

Hershey Kisses Treat Bag Toppers Source [1] describes "First Day Hershey Kisses Treat Bag Toppers" as adorable printables sized for snack-size baggies. These are intended to accompany the reading of the book, with instructions to "share a kiss at home with someone they love," as noted in Source [4]. A parent note is included with this treat bag concept.

Number and Letter Recognition Source [2] describes a 0-10 mini booklet where students trace, write, and use "lipstick-ers" (likely stickers) to show "how many" in a group. This is accompanied by trace and write worksheets for numbers 0-100. For letter recognition, Source [4] mentions a coloring page that functions as a color-by-code activity for capital and lowercase letters.

Accessibility and Usage

The resources are generally designed to be "print and go," requiring minimal preparation. Source [1] notes that the "First Day of School Certificate" can be "printed up and ready to go in no time." Source [5] confirms that the 9-page packet is "full of activities" ready for immediate use with preschoolers and kindergarteners.

While the resources are free, some are time-limited. Source [2] indicates that a shape packet will be "FREE for an entire year, after which time it will be included in my jumbo Kissing Hand (Raccoon-Themed) Shape Packet available in my TpT shop." This suggests a promotional strategy where free access is granted for a limited period before being integrated into a paid product.

Conclusion

The provided source material documents a robust ecosystem of free educational resources centered around The Kissing Hand. These materials, distributed primarily through Teachers Pay Teachers, educator blogs, and homeschool deal sites, offer comprehensive extensions of the book's themes. They cover critical early childhood learning domains, including social-emotional processing, literacy, mathematics, and art. The resources are characterized by their accessibility, ease of use, and focus on differentiation, making them valuable tools for educators and parents seeking to facilitate a smooth transition into the school year.