Overcoming a fear of nature

If nothing else I have bestowed upon my children my love of nature. They are not always as enthusiastic as I am about our natural world though they often come very close. From the time my children were quite little I have been introducing them to the world around us and encouraging them to explore their environment and everything in it using every sense possible. When it comes to insects many people are okay with using sight but using your sense of touch can make some people squeamish. I get it, I’ve been there, in fact, I’m still there. The centipedes I see in my bathroom still give me the hee bee jeebies on sight. I am really not sure why but most other insects do not elicit the same feelings in me and I am perfectly fine handling most insects and spiders. I have encouraged my children to be the same way. My crew does not go out looking for insects necessarily, but they will point out bugs and show their curiosity for insects when encountered.

What I have shown my children, more than anything, when it comes to insects, is that they are not something to fear though our fear is only natural. So it’s okay to be creeped out by insects while still understanding that insects are a part of life that can be appreciated even if on a smaller level. I encourage my children to handle the critters we find in our home, in our yard and anywhere else we go because I want them to overcome whatever fears they have so that they can truly appreciate the animals we live among.