Our experience has been that the cats who want to be around the kids don't mind the "kid treatment" so much, and when they tire of it, they will move out of reach. The one who doesn't like the kids so much pretty much ignores them. That said, we do show them how to pet the cats the right way, usually taking their hands and helping them pet the cat, and telling them "gentle." (Of course, every time I told our oldest to be "gentle" with her little sister, she would pet her like a cat. )