Hanging of the Hands

Tens of thousands of paper cut-outs of Children's hands decorated by children and their teachers are collected at child care centers and schools across the state and are hung throughout the Capitol Rotunda creating an amazing display of Children's art.

The hands remain in the Capitol Rotunda the entire week as a reminder to legislators and advocates that we must take care of our most precious commodity our children.


Hundreds of volunteers hang over 100,000
paper cut-outs of Children's hands in
the State Capitol Rotunda Schools, child care centers, and individuals from across the state have been submitting hands to hang at the Capitol for many years, and we encourage everyone to participate in this time honored tradition.

The official Hanging of the Hands will take place at the State Capitol Rotunda on Sunday, April 11, 2010 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.


Lt. Governor Kottkamp announcing
"Parents' and Children's Day" The Hanging of the Hands Dedication Ceremony takes place on Tuesday, Thousands of non-profit partners, policy makers, faith based leaders and advocates join together to recognize the efforts of teachers, parents and children and dedicate the Children's hand art display to the Florida Legislature. April 13 will be announced as the official "Children's Capitol for a Day" with a signed proclamation from Governor Crist.

Artwork Instructions

Please use the following instructions to submit Children's hand artwork:

Children's hand artwork should be stapled onto string or ribbon vertically in lengths of 8 to 10 feet. Hands must be hung vertically and strung together before mailing. Please secure hands firmly to string/ribbon (see picture below). Please do not send individual hands without connecting them to string/ribbon. Please do not send large signs. You may decorate the hands with colorful artwork, stories and attach small pictures and posters (no larger than 11" x 14").

Deadline to mail hands for 2011 TBA.

Early Learning Coalition of Big Bend Region
c/o Children's Week Hands
325 John Knox Road, Building L-201
Tallahassee, FL 32303

If sending via mail, please list the contact information, organization and county the hands are being sent from. Please list your county name on the box, and on the back of the first set of hands and the last set of hands, so volunteers can hang the hands in the State Capitol Rotunda in order of counties.

If you plan to assist with the Hanging of the Hands at the Capitol (and we hope you will), you may volunteer to help hang artwork... it is really a wonderful experience to see the Capitol transformed!

Volunteers will meet Sunday, April 11 at 12:30 p.m. in the Capitol parking lot (behind House Office Building) on the corner of Jefferson St. and Adams St. in Tallahassee. Volunteers must arrive at 12:30 p.m. for mandatory volunteer orientation. Volunteers will receive instructions and help hang hands from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. You may also assist with delivering hand artwork to the Florida Legislature the Friday after the Hanging of the Hands. To volunteer, please fill out the Children's Week Volunteer Form.

Click here to download the 2010 Volunteer Orientation form.

Click here to download the Hanging of the Hands map.

Click here to download the Downtown Public Parking map.

Hands and posters are created and attached to string/ribbon for hanging in the Capitol Rotunda.

Hand artwork is hung in the Capitol Rotunda from Sunday through Friday during Children's Week.