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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To let my 3yo pick up slugs and snails in the garden?

62 replies

peanutbuttersarnies · 11/05/2013 18:32

3yo ds is always interested in slugs snails, beetles, flys etc. I imagine like any other 3yo. When he found a snail in the garden the other day he likes to hav a good look. Then the other day he started picking up by the shell. I find it a bit squeamish but try not to let it show. I pretend to be interested too. I try to tell him what they like best and where to put it. He trys to feed it leaves. And basically treats it like his pet for half an hour. Hoping hes made it happy. then the other day he came up to me with a slug in his hand to show me. As much as I don't particularly like the thought myself I don't like to discourage him. I don't want him getting phobias of creepy crawlies and slimy things. I let him hold them as long as he's not hurting them.
But today in the garden dh started trying to implement a look but don't touch policy with insects etc. Ds was a bit confused then obviously.
What sort of policy do other people take? Aibu? He knows to stay away from wasps and bees.

OP posts:

RooneyMara · 12/05/2013 11:09

Hiddenhome, I'm not doubting that this story is what was passed on to you, but I'd only be convinced regarding the hand thing if she had about 7 hands

Otherwise she probably used that hand for any number of things as well as picking up snails

We always used to rescue them off the path when it rained, now I don't do that so much but I do like to pick up the odd snail. Slugs make it hard to clean your hands afterwards and worms get scared easily...

I tell mine not to kill or hurt them, that's all. I think they are dangerous to dogs but that seems like a new fangled phenomenon and I am afraid I am a bit about anything advertised in vet waiting rooms as I don't think all vets are necessarily very realistic wrt what is worth paying for worrying about and what isn't.

TheBigJessie · 12/05/2013 11:19

I have a look but don't touch policy with anything very delicate, which will evolve in to a pick it up carefully policy (and wash your hands afterwards) with time.

Eskino · 12/05/2013 11:42

Not touch? Haha never heard anything like it!

Look, touch, inspect, turn over and try and find its bum, sniff, watch for a bit, notice its colours, inspect some more. Toddlers need to know they share the world with things smaller than they are, that aren't frightening but are more likely frightened and need our protection.

I still have a book that ds kept when he was 5 noting particular insects, their markings and how many there were in one spot. Woodlice were his favourite. He used to keep them in his pocket

Buzzardbird · 12/05/2013 11:43

Talkin I have never heard that children with allergies benefit from a dose of worms!
Off to google that one...fascinating.
My DD had a thing about picking up tired bees at nursery and taking them into the staff to look after...they were not impressed to say the least

ilovexmastime · 12/05/2013 11:51

Why would you encourage your kids to look and not touch? The touching part is the most interesting!

Mine went through a stage of keeping slugs and snails as pets and I encouraged it. Not so great when they all escaped though. .. I only found about half of them in the end.

Midlifecrisisarefun · 12/05/2013 15:12

Years ago my step daughter who is only a few years younger than me used to bring her DC (DHs DGC iykwim) over to our house. Her DC and our DC, similar ages, used to go in the garden with tubs creepy crawly hunting....her DC were always immaculately dressed in little shirts/chinos etc....they always got filthy...I'm sure if it had been now there would have been a AIBU thread in it!

KansasCityOctopus · 12/05/2013 21:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

girliefriend · 12/05/2013 22:08

My dd has always been fascinated by bugs and its something I have encouraged tbh.

Although when she was about 2 I did find her squashing woodlice I was not happy and we had a long chat about not hurting small creatures and trying to imagine how the woodlouse felt etc think it helped with the development of empathy and now she is very very careful with any bug she finds.

Infact she announced the other day that when she grows up she wants to be a bug explorer

ilovexmastime · 13/05/2013 08:03

But Kansas, there're people on this thread talking about killing the slugs and snails that eat their plants, kids helping to cut them in half. That's the reality for slugs and snails in a gardener's garden. If one of my kids accidently squashes a slug I'm not going to get too upset (although I wouldn't want them to be doing it on purpose), I'd rather they were out there exploring nature. They soon learnt how tohandle them correctly anyhow.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 13/05/2013 11:04

This thread just reminded me of the day the cat brought home a mouse. It was a bit dazed-looking (the mouse, not the cat) and, panicking slightly, I was hunting about for something to catch it with when DS (then 3yo) picked it up gently and said 'where do you want it to go?' Resisting the temptation to scream, hurl, blanch, etc I opened the door and he popped it in a flower bed. Much scrubbing of hands afterwards.....

ilovexmastime · 13/05/2013 18:39

That's so sweet Cogito!

fuzzpig · 13/05/2013 18:47

Havent managed links or typing on new phone but the bug viewer thing we have (mentioned upthread) is called creature peeper you can get it on amazon for £4.50 atm my dcs love it

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