Train the animal in front of the child. Show the children that pets have the ability to listen and follow directions when properly instructed. Teach a dog to sit or rollover, for example. Instruct the dog with simple hand and voice commands. Allow children to repeat your commands so they can also instruct the dog. Have children reward the dog with pets, hugs, treats and kisses to build a loving bond with the animal.
Read and watch educational videos. Guide children through picture books of animals. Identify sights and sounds to specific animals. Instruct children to repeat sounds that animals make when seeing them -- "baah-ing" when they see a goat, for example, or "purrr-ing" when they see a cat. Teach children how animals protect humans -- dogs bark at intruders, for instance, or how cats eat pesky mice -- as a safeguard and benefit to the family.
Take the children to the farm and store. Show children real life cows and chickens, for instance. Observe, with children, how the animals interact with their own kind. Witness the milking of cows or collect chicken eggs for farmers, if possible. Visit the grocery store to show children jugs of milk and cartons of eggs -- so they can identify how domestic animals make food that is healthy for their body.