Catfish

I don't know anything about fishing! My fishing experience goes as far as
putting some velveeta cheese on a treble hook and casting it into a lake and
hoping a trout will bite it.

I've heard that catfish need to be handled a certain way to not get cut or
poked or something like that. Is this true?

Is there any reason not to just grab onto a catfish when you catch one?

In a small stocked urban lake setting what are the basics of fishing for
catfish?

I've got to get my son up to speed even though I'm completely ignorant on
this subject.

thanks