Before allowing a three-year-old child to handle a cat at all, give
explicit lessons on how to handle it properly. Teach the child the
meaning of the words “Don’t hurt” by inhibiting the movement of her
hands _before_ she has done the mischief. (See lesson on “Don’t Touch”
in “Easy Lessons for Teaching Obedience in the Home,” Book I, p.
46—Beery.)
Give an imitative lesson. Holding the cat yourself, gently stroke its
fur, showing Margy the proper way of handling the cat. Then take Margy’s
hand and gently pass it over the fur in the same way.
See to it that the child does not have the cat at all except when some
older person is there to control her action, until such time as she has
learned the meaning of the command, “Don’t hurt,” and will obey it. In
other words, do not allow the wrong habit to become established before
the right way is comprehended.