Arachnophobia

[AnaheimGirl]

and entomophobia

and myrmecophobia...


Anyone else have a young child scared to death of bugs?

Since the weather has gotten warmer and the bugs have come back out, my 3yo has been freaking out at the sight of them. She didn't like them so much last year, either, but wouldn't freak. It's so bad, at times she doesn't want to play outside because of the bugs.

If a bug gets on her, she screams bloody murder. The first time, I thought she'd broken her arm, she was screaming and crying so hard. When I could finally make out her words, she was saying "get it off me!", and I found a tiny little ant on her arm.

My older dd was never like this. She's never been stung by a bee or had anything else happen to give her this fear.

How can I help her?

Thanks,

 

[Tracey1974]

I'm not sure how to get over it being that I am afraid of them as well! Bees petrify me for some reason- I have been stung a few times and I can't even watch them on TV!

I guess maybe if you get a picture book of them and explain how small they are and that they are more afraid of your child then he/she is of them. Maybe that will help?

 

[Muziqal]

and entomophobia

and myrmecophobia...


Anyone else have a young child scared to death of bugs?

Since the weather has gotten warmer and the bugs have come back out, my 3yo has been freaking out at the sight of them. She didn't like them so much last year, either, but wouldn't freak. It's so bad, at times she doesn't want to play outside because of the bugs.

If a bug gets on her, she screams bloody murder. The first time, I thought she'd broken her arm, she was screaming and crying so hard. When I could finally make out her words, she was saying "get it off me!", and I found a tiny little ant on her arm.

My older dd was never like this. She's never been stung by a bee or had anything else happen to give her this fear.

How can I help her?

Thanks,

I dunno man...I'm 27, a fairly built guy and they still freak me out. You should have seen my freak out when a wasp landed on my lap in the car the other day! I was lucky not to cause any fatalities!

I'll be willing to try anything anyone suggests...but it may be too late for me.

Good luck with your daughter though!

 

[wvrevy]

DD(5) is the same way. Not sure why, but she has a completely irrational fear of mosquitos, in particular. Yeah, she freaks out at bees and even ants, but nowhere near the hysterics she gets when a mosquito gets into the house.

Will be interested to see if anyone has any suggestions.

 

[scrump]

I have to count myself in this group as well. I have always had an irrational fear of bugs, and even on the Splash Mountain ride, I can't stand the part where the bees fly around the hives. The buzzing FREAKS me out every time and I duck my head to "avoid" the bees.

I don't have any advice, though, since I never got over it, sorry. It helped when people took it seriously as a fear, instead of discarding it as me merely being grossed out.

Good luck to your DD!!

 

[irishbosoxfan]

My youngest was like this and I would show her cute pics of bugs to get her used to them--Then using my older daughter I would pick up a bug saying see momma is fine its ok---and have my older DD hold the bug also saying see she's ok---bugs are ok--then make her hold the bug. NOW I don't recommend grabbing a roach or a spider just some friendly bug like a ladybug(tell her you can make a wish on it then when it flys away it will bring her wish to the wish fairy-get her to tell you what her wish was and get it for her so she thinks the ladybug actually brought her wish to the wish fairy) Ants are friends with the tickle monster and if she stays very still she can feel the tickle.
Worms and caterpillars are friends with ants AND the tickle monster--Worms also help us have pretty flowers so get a plant(petunias are hardy and bloom nicely)for her to plant and put her own worm in the ground when she plants it and watch how her worm friend helps her flower grow so pretty!!
Also a bug catcher kit goes a long way to helping overcome some of the bug fears!

These worked for me almost to well as now DD4 wants to bring her bugs inside so she can find them the next day to play with some more!