Pregnancy & Baby 
ParentHow ToThe gentle touch.
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The gentle touch.

by Coram Family

question
Our three-year-old is very rough with animals. He pulls their tails, hits them and treats them inappropriately. My husband says he doesn't understand how to treat them at his age, but I feel it is time he should be taught to treat them with respect. Am I expecting too much from a three-year-old, and, if not, how can we teach our son to be kind to animals?

answer
Three-year-olds may not understand how to treat animals with care, but you are right in believing your son is old enough to learn.

Be ready to quickly stop your son when he treats animals roughly. You can be firm yet kind in removing his hands from the animal. Say something like: ‘Don’t pull her tail. It hurts her’ or ‘Be gentle. A dog has feelings too’. Persevere with this approach and, if necessary, warn your son kindly but firmly that, if he can’t play gently with an animal, he won’t play with him at all. At the same time, encourage gentler and more appropriate handling with nods, smiles and comments.

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