Expecting another baby? Or, does your child play too roughly with playmates or even the family pet? Sounds like some "gentleness training" is in order. Toddlers don't necessarily know how to behave properly around a newborn, young puppy, or even a playmate. That's where adults step in to serve as role models and teach "gentleness." Here's how.

• Show your child gentleness skills and role-play the actions. If you're expecting a new baby, have your child practice how to be gentle using a doll or favorite stuffed animal. Be sure to explain why a youngster needs to be gentle, and why an infant's back and neck needs to be supported. Kids are curious, and will react better if they understand that an infant is not capable of holding the head up.
  
  
• Teach that gentleness means voice and movement. Too many toddlers achieve gentle motions, only to startle or scare a newborn or even new animal through frenzied movements and shrieking voices. Teach a toddler that calmness and gentleness is best reflected through slow, controlled movement, soft voice, and gentle touch. Demonstrate how a toddler should touch a baby (include when and where as well) and how a young animal should be petted. The same holds true for a playmate; toddlers should be taught how to converse and touch a playmate (explain that nobody likes to be poked, prodded, yelled at, kicked, etc., even in play).