Here are five tips to help your kids and teens conquer their fears of critters who inhabit the summer season:
- 1) Talk to your child about bugs. Get on your child’s level and understand what worries them about bugs. This demonstrates that you care and that their concerns are important to you.
- 2) Start small and be patient. Take baby steps when addressing your child’s fear.
- 3) Read books or do an activity all about bugs.
- 4) Make it a game!
- 5) Lead by example.
How to help kids overcome their fear of insects? Fear of creepy-crawlies doesn’t need to inhibit time in nature. With time, patience and a few tips, you can help kids overcome their fear of insects. They might even learn to love them! Spending time outside with your children can sometimes bring its own set of obstacles: bad weather, physical challenges, latent fears.
How can I help my child learn about bugs? Empower your child. When your child is ready, visit a museum or nature center where live butterflies and other bugs are in an enclosed area you can enter. This gives her an opportunity to interact with real bugs in the company of other children. Or, in your backyard or neighborhood, see how many different bugs you can find.
Are You unknowingly passing your fears and phobias onto your children? We are unknowingly passing our fears and phobias onto our children, especially when it comes to bugs and insects. Phobias are an irrational response to a rational situation, and sometimes those responses can be so spontaneous that we cannot hide them from our children.
Are You Scared of bugs? Many kids and even adults are scared of bugs. But for some of our kids it goes way beyond that. Perhaps they won’t go outside, won’t go to the park or won’t go swimming because of their fear of insects. Maybe they are worried about taking a shower or a bath or even going to the bathroom.
How to help kids overcome their fear of insects?
How can I help my child overcome a fear of bugs? Encourage your child to observe the bugs in their habitats and ask the staff questions. They might also see other children who are excited by bugs. Seeing others act calmly around the insects may further reduce their stress and help them overcome fear of insects.
Is your child afraid of insects? Spending time outside with your children can sometimes bring its own set of obstacles: bad weather, physical challenges, latent fears. One of those fears that can come to the surface during direct interaction with nature is the fear of insects.
How can entomologists help you overcome fear of bugs? Entomologists also have dead bugs on display so you can get an up close look without worrying that the bug might get you. After visiting the entomologist, you can continue the gradual exposure by confronting a live bug out in the wild. This will help you to face the fear and deal with it rather than letting it control you.
How to teach preschoolers about bugs? For example, if your preschooler is afraid because someone said bugs eat people, you can use the opportunity to correct them and give them some interesting facts about bugs. Help change their perspective by watching animated bug movies.