Explore The Kissing Hand activities for preschoolers and toddlers, including sensory play, crafts, math, snacks, songs, and books to help children prepare for starting school.
We have provided links to the books we recommend in this week’s theme. If you purchase via the links we may earn a small commission.
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The Kissing Hand Weekly Planner for Preschoolers
Starting preschool can bring a mix of excitement and big feelings for young children—and The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a beautiful way to help little ones navigate those emotions. In this weekly planner, you’ll find simple, playful activities inspired by Chester Raccoon’s story, including sensory play, reading, math, crafts, snacks, songs, and more.
As you read about Chester’s special kissing hand, invite your child to talk about the people who love them and the things that help them feel safe and confident when they are apart. These activities are designed to make learning together meaningful while helping toddlers and preschoolers feel a little more prepared for their own preschool adventures.
Additional Themes for Starting School:
- I Like Myself Weekly Planner
- Chrysanthemum Name Weekly Planner
- Ten Red Apples Weekly Planner
- The King of Kindergarten Weekly Planner
- We Don’t Eat our Classmates Weekly Planner
- Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus Weekly Planner
DOWNLOAD –>> The Kissing Hand Printable Activities
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Book Overview: The Kissing Hand
When Chester Raccoon learns that it’s time to start school, he feels nervous about leaving his mother and staying away from home. Mrs. Raccoon shares a special family secret—the Kissing Hand—to remind Chester that her love is always with him, even when they are apart. This heartwarming story offers preschoolers a gentle way to talk about separation, big feelings, starting school, and feeling safe and loved.
Don’t have the book? You can listen to a Read Aloud of The Kissing Hand on YouTube.
Songs to Sing Along with The Kissing Hand
Add music and movement to your The Kissing Hand week with these sweet songs about family, love, school, and feeling brave. Preschoolers can sing, dance, and join in with simple motions while making connections to Chester’s story and their own experiences with family and school.
I Love My Family | Super Simple Songs
Skinnamarink Dinky Dink | Noodle & Pals
This is the Way We Go to School | Sesame Street
Sing Along with Chester – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
There’s a whole playlist of Chester the Raccoon videos from the Henson Company on their youtube channel.
School Themed Schedule of Activities for Preschoolers
The Kissing Hand Weekly Planner for Preschool
The Kissing Hand Themed Weekly Planner
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a heartwarming story that helps preschoolers explore feelings about separation, starting school, and the comfort of knowing they are loved. This week’s activities bring the story to life with playful ideas for sensory play, reading, math, snacks, and crafts—all inspired by Chester Raccoon and his special kissing hand.
Create The Kissing Hand Play-Doh Invitation to Play
filled with play-doh, hand print and heart cookie cutters, plastic heart gems, heart shape containers to explore.
A Heart-Shaped Family Photo Book inspired by Audrey Penn's 'The Kissing Hand'... A lovely comfort object for times of transition and/or separation.
Work on letter recognition with the printable The Kissing Hand Alphabet Activity.
Don't Feed The Raccoon! is a fun, simple, and fast paced preschool number identification game designed to teach numbers, specifically teen numbers.
Explore sequencing and size recognition with this Printable Kissing Hand Heart Activity.
Create this adorable Kissing Hand Cookie for snacktime using a handprint cookie cutter!
You can also make these tasty heart shaped pretzels to go along with the story.
This sweet Kissing Hand Craft uses a free poem and child's handprint to help ease separation anxiety for preschoolers and kindergarteners.
Want more raccoon crafts? Make this adorable Newspaper Racoon Craft.
More Books About Starting Preschool
If your preschooler is feeling a little nervous about starting school, these books offer gentle, reassuring stories about saying goodbye, making new friends, and discovering that school can be a fun place to learn and grow. Pair them with The Kissing Hand to help children talk about their feelings and build confidence as they get ready for their own preschool adventure.
- Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
- Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins
- Preschool, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg
- Open the Preschool Door by Christopher Santoro
- Pete the Kitty’s First Day of Preschool by Kimberly and James Dean
- The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing
You can explore additional First Day of School Books here on our Book List to get your preschooler ready to head to school for the very first time.
The Kissing Hand is more than a story about starting school—it’s a gentle reminder that love can travel with us wherever we go. As you explore these activities with your toddler or preschooler, take time to talk about their feelings, share a special goodbye routine, and remind them that they are loved even when you’re apart.
We hope this week of The Kissing Hand activities brings your family opportunities to read, play, create, and connect together. Whether your child is getting ready for preschool or simply learning about big feelings, Chester Raccoon’s story is a sweet way to help them feel confident, comforted, and ready for their next adventure.
You may also enjoy these additional activities with your child…
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