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| |    Pets and Preschoolers by Susan E. Davis reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Three- to five- year olds are often very enamored of pets and see them as special friends that are endowed with human qualities. (My three-year-old, for instance, currently shows off her outfits to our rabbits each morning and asks them if they think she's "bew-ful.") Preschoolers can also begin to understand the importance of being gentle and quiet around animals, as well as patting appropriately and not pulling on ears, legs, or tails. These are rules that can and should be enforced as strongly as mandates against jumping on the furniture, entering a street without an adult, or hitting and biting. A lesson in empathy With careful teaching, preschoolers also can grasp the idea that animals can feel pain, be afraid, or even be sad. Pointing out an animal's body language underscores these ideas, as in "Do you see how Rover ran away? That's because your yelling scared her," or "Do you see how Kitty is lashing her tail? That means she's getting angry and wants you to stop patting her tummy." Handle with care But because they're very young and excitable, preschoolers won't always remember to mind their manners around animals. And they may not be able to control the urge to hold or squeeze small, fragile pets. (This is especially true if other children are around, which triggers off both the herd and show-off mentality in this age group.) That means you still need to monitor preschooler-animal interactions and you still need to continually impart the values of being gentle and respectful with pets. Again, the parent can provide the best example; I was thrilled the first time my daughter chastised me for using a loud voice around one of her pets; in this case, she was taking a "napping" snail for a ride in her wagon. When I called to her from across the yard, she turned around and said gently, "Shhhhh, Mommy, you're scaring him." Stepping up to some responsibility Preschoolers are also old enough to take on simple chores, like putting pre-measured dry food in the cat's bowl every morning, feeding the goldfish, or talking to the bird for a few minutes after it was left alone all day. They won't remember to do this on their own, however. Try making a simple chart to remind them of their daily chores or gently remind them verbally.
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