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Behaviour/development

Scared of flies!

7 replies

NottsMum · 09/08/2004 08:29

I invited a friend from nursery to play with my 3 year old DD this morning but I spent the whole time trying to convince them that there was nothing wrong with flies. My DD is normally a bit wary of them but her friend was REALLY scared so DD copied her to the point that at one stage they were both in tears. I explained lots of times that flies don't hurt, that in fact they're friendly and just wanted to have a look at the toys. (The two of them refused to get in the paddling pool convinced that even blades of grass were flies). So the best way I thought of handling the situation was showing them how to say "shoo, shoo fly" and swat their hands at said fly to make it go away. It kind of worked. But how could I have handled this better? This kind of situation is bound to happen again so I want to know what's the best way I can deal with it when it happens. (It nearly drove me mad, as my DD is normally pretty chilled!)

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strangerthanfiction · 09/08/2004 20:44

No advice here but sympathy as my 22 month old is terrified of flies, spiders, bees etc. I don't know where she's got it from as I'm not funny about insects at all. If she even thinks there might be one somewhere she screams and hides or runs away and is genuinly really upset at the thought. She's worked out that flies and bees hang out around bins and now won't touch a bin.

OCD here we come ... .

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Tissy · 09/08/2004 20:47

my dd is just the same- has hysterics when she sees a fly at the other side of a room. Dh says he was just the same at that age, so at least I know who to blame!

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linniewith2 · 10/08/2004 16:34

have you tried the peter rabbit song:
Peter rabbit had a fly upon his nose
Peter rabbit had a fly upon his nose
Peter rabbit had a fly upon his nose
So he flipped it and he flapped it and the fly flew away.
My dd also says shoo shoo fly but gets flies & spiders mixed up a bit ! & moths but knows & likes butterfies,
Hope this helps x

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linniewith2 · 10/08/2004 17:53

Remembered the rest of the song
Peter rabbit had a fly upon his nose
Peter rabbit had a fly upon his nose
Peter rabbit had a fly upon his nose
So he flipped it and he flapped it and the fly flew away
Floppy ears and curly whiskers
Floppy ears and curly whiskers
Floppy ears and curly whiskers
So he flipped it and he flapped it and the fly flew away.

Also forgot to say its sung to the tune of glory glory halaluyah.

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NottsMum · 10/08/2004 22:12

Great idea LW2 - thanks for reminding me of the tune as I'd completely forgotten. I shall try that next time Iz (or friend) freaks out at a fly.

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linniewith2 · 10/08/2004 23:03

glad you liked it!
you can make up actions to go with it too

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Yorkiegirl · 10/08/2004 23:06

Message withdrawn

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