Jean,
Spencer at age 5 is a bit of an explorer (especially if your back is turned) and if you told him he would have to kiss the anemone to feel it AND when he touched it there was no problem, well ... he is adventurous. I had to hold him over every touch tank at the aquarium yesterday since he could not reach the water on his own. I don't think he actually got to TOUCH anything but he had to try
I keep something of a "touch-tank" in a refugium/sump arrangement I have for my "fish" tank. The kids tend to ignore it now but initially they would inspect to see if the touchable critters were viewable and ask me to hold them so they could touch. Since there are numerous plants in the tank, neither are brave enough to "touch" without supervision