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Step 1
Have your toddler sit down in a chair or on the floor and tell her you will bring the animal for her to hold.
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Step 2
Show your child how to cradle the animal in her arms, explaining that the puppy or kitten will get scared if your child moves too suddenly or gets up while holding the animal.
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Step 3
Illustrate how to gently pet the puppy or kitten, explaining to your child that she should only take her fingers and gently run them along the animal's back and the top of its head.
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Step 4
Watch to make sure your child does not pick the puppy or kitten up by the neck or that she does not hold the animal by the head or neck after picking it up, which is a common thing for young children to do. Tell your child that she is hurting the puppy or kitten and that she will make the animal cry. Remind your child that you do not pick her up by the neck or head and that a puppy or kitten is just like her.
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Step 5
Show your child how to pick up the puppy or kitten—when the animal gets a little older and after your child has learned how to hold and pet the young animal sitting down with the puppy or kitten in her lap—by scooping it up into her arms or by carefully picking it up by the body and not the head or neck.
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Step 6
Continue to watch your child with the puppy or kitten each time she is holding, petting or picking the animal up. If you see your child pick the young animal up in the wrong way or hitting the animal instead of petting it, take the puppy or kitten and place it back in her arms the right way. Use words or phrases like "easy, careful, or you will hurt the puppy or kitten."
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Step 7
If your child continues to hold the puppy or kitten inappropriately, you may want to consider not letting her hold the animal unless she is sitting on your lap with you holding the animal.
