The story
Arnold is playing ball when his friend Ella asks for a turn. His engine runs too high and his hands want to hit. “Hitting hurts. Ella would feel sad.”
Free printable + video
No Hitting Social Story for Kids
- Squeeze & let go
- Breathe
- Count to 10
- Use my words
Someone wants a turn, and in a second little hands are moving before the words come. This free 21-page printable story gives a child a plan for that moment: Stop. Breathe. Safe hands.
It comes with a squeeze-along, a breathe-along and a count-along page, and a My Safe-Hands Tools poster for the fridge or the classroom wall.
Get the free story
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Free. No payment needed.
Watch the story together
Arnold’s animated story is about three minutes long. Squeeze, breathe and count along with him, then say the three words together.
Stop.Breathe.Safe hands.
What is inside the free PDF
Simple words, one idea per page, and the same Arnold and Ella pictures your child sees in the video.
Four safe-hands tools
Squeeze and let go, breathe along, count to ten finger by finger, and use words: “One more minute, please!”
Taking turns
Ella gets her turn, Arnold feels proud, and the child circles the tool they want to try first.
Poster + parent guide
A “My Safe-Hands Tools” poster with a line for the child’s name, and a one-page guide for grown-ups.
How to use it
- First
Read it on a calm day
After school or before bed. A calm moment is the easiest time to learn a new plan.
- Then
Do the tools together
Watch the video and squeeze, breathe and count along with Arnold, so the tools feel easy when a big feeling comes.
- Next
Say the three words
Put up the poster and practise “Stop. Breathe. Safe hands.” together, so the words are ready on a hard day.
For parents
Why do kids hit? An autistic adult explains
Tyler McNamer is autistic. In this video he talks about hitting from the inside: why it so often comes from panic, not anger, and what helps instead.
Questions parents ask
What is this no hitting social story about?
It is a 21-page printable story about keeping hands safe. Arnold wants to hit when a friend asks for a turn, and he learns four safe-hands tools instead: squeeze and let go, breathe, count to ten, and use his words.
Who is it for?
Autistic children and any young child who hits when a feeling gets too big, from toddlers and preschool to kindergarten and early grades. Parents, teachers and therapists use it at home, in class and in therapy.
Is there a video of the story?
Yes. The animated “I Keep My Hands Safe” video tells the same story in about three minutes, with a squeeze-along, a breathe-along and a count-along. Watch it on this page or on the AutismWorks YouTube channel.
Can I print it?
Yes. The story is a printable PDF in landscape format. Print the whole story, or only the poster on page 20 for the fridge or the classroom wall.
Why does my child hit?
Hitting is often a child’s fastest answer to a feeling that is too big and too fast for words, like waiting for a turn or a sudden surprise. Tyler McNamer, who is autistic, explains in his own video that it often comes from panic, not anger.
How often should we read it?
Often. Read it on calm days, a few times a week. The same words again and again help a child remember the plan when a hard moment comes.
Is it free?
Yes. AutismWorks gives this story free to families and teachers.
More free social stories
Each one is free, printable and ready for a hard moment.
Made by Tyler and his dad, Jody
Tyler McNamer is an autistic adult and the author of two books about growing up with autism, Population ONE and Becoming ONE. With his dad, Jody, he makes these free social stories so parents and teachers have simple words for hard moments.
190,000+books sold35,000+story downloads
Meet Tyler →