As children, we don't have an inherent craving for meat--or a natural instinct to tear apart an animal with our teeth. We're not born carnivores or omnivores. We're only taught to crave and eat meat.

How we see animals as kids is simple: we would rather play with them than eat them. When it comes to the treatment of animals, as kids, we generally know right from wrong. We may sometimes be rough when playing with them, but if we saw a pig or a cow, we wouldn't think to kill and eat them. (And if a child abuses, tortures or kills animals, as adults we're horrified because that sends up a red flag that the child may have serious issues--maybe even grow up to be a psychopath).