How do I teach my toddler to be gentle with animals?

Children under 3 often treat pets like toys — grabbing, pulling, and squeezing — because they lack fine motor control and empathy skills. Model gentle touch by guiding their hand: 'See? Nice and soft, like this.' Never leave a toddler unsupervised with any animal, even a family pet. Teach simple rules: no pulling ears or tails, no touching while the pet is eating. If your child is unusually rough despite repeated guidance, discuss it with your pediatrician.