How to Teach Toddlers Animal Safety

Talk to your toddler about the difference between your own pets at home and wild animals he sees when outside or away from the house. Tell him that it̵7;s OK to pet the family dog because he̵7;s part of the family. However, the simple rule for undomesticated animals should be that if he sees an animal outdoors should be not to feed it, touch it or go near it. While raccoons, squirrels and other outdoor critters look adorable, they might bite and might be infected with rabies. After explaining the rule to your toddler, ask him to tell you about it in his own words. For example, say, ̶0;What should you do if you see a squirrel in the park?̶1; or ̶0;Is it OK to go near a raccoon if you see it crossing the backyard?̶1;

Help your toddler take good care of the family pet by learning about what to do and what not to do. Talk about how to be gentle with the animal, petting instead of poking, grabbing, squeezing or tugging, and not to bother the animal when it's eating or drinking. If your toddler will be involved in daily care activities with the pet, such as helping to give the fish food or placing the water bowl down for the cat, talk to her about the right way to do these tasks and then stay with her each time.

Teach your toddler about the difference between his toys and the dog̵7;s or cat̵7;s toys. Sometimes dogs can be possessive of their toys and this can create a potentially dangerous situation if your child plays with them, and since toddlers often explore by putting things in their mouths, you don't want your toddler chewing on the same toys as the family pet.

Explain to your child that he should not pet somebody else's cat, dog or other animal without getting permission first. While the dog walking down the street with its owner might be excited to see your toddler -- and of course, she̵7;ll be excited, too -- tell her that she must always ask if it̵7;s OK to pet the animal and to keep her hands away until permission has been granted. Next, tell your child to move slowly and let the dog sniff her hand. Never approach quickly or go directly to petting. You can tell her that the fast movements or the inability to sniff (meet) you first, can make a dog feel scared.

Talk about more troublesome situations. While you'll likely always be with your toddler when he encounters a new animal, you can teach him about the importance of staying still when a strange dog is around so he'll be equipped with this knowledge later. Tell him to stay very still if a dog approaches him -- just like when you're playing freeze dance -- and to remain that way even if the dog sniffs to check him out. Often, dogs will lose interest and move onto something else and your child can move away slowly.