Kindness Toward Animal
Unfortunately, toddlers tend to be even less kind to animals than to playmates. Animals – like vegetables, minerals, and peers – are merely objects to be manipulated for a toddler’s private entertainment, investigated for his personal edification. That these creatures have long ears, tails, fur, feathers, or other interesting appendages or coverings, makes yanking, tugging, squeezing, squishing, pursuing, and tormenting them all the more tantalizing.
But just because animal “torture” is all in fun for toddlers – they certainly don’t realize they’re doing harm – doesn’t mean its acceptable behavior. Teaching toddler to have respect for the rights animals is as important as teaching them to have respects for the rights of humans. These are some tips to teach toddler loving the animals.
Go hunting for animal friends. Exposing toddlers to different kinds of animals in different settings can help them feel more comfortable around animals. Books are another wonderful place to hunt for new and different animal friends.
Having a pet at home. Having a pet at home can greatly enhance a child’s empathy for animals. A couple of gold fish or a guinea pig or a hamster is easier to take care for than a dog or a cat.
Teach the fine art of petting. A toddler’s natural inclination is to overwhelm animals with their own special brand of kindness. It’s up to you to show your toddler how safely and humanely hug and pet an animal.
Tell your toddler where it hurts. Explain that animals have feelings, just like people, so we must be careful not to “hurt” them.
Teach the gentle art of observation. Watch an ant crawl up its hill and disappear, a squirrel cracking open a peanut, flying butterfly, etc. As you watch, talk about the animals, but always let it go, explaining that animals have their own activities that we have to let them do that by them selves.
Don’t let your toddler tease. Teasing animals is not only unkind but potentially dangerous. Explain that it’s not nice to interrupt an animal’s nap, bother one while it’s eating, or take away its toy etc.
