Hello - I am at my wits end!! My 2 year suddenly developed a fear of spiders and bees late last summer (around 18 - 20m). I couldn't' think where she had picked it up from, as neither my husband or I are bothered by spiders/insects. One day when I collected her from nursery I noticed one of the assistants screaming and flapping as there was a wasp nearby. The fuss she was making was very over the top and after witnessing such, I was convinced my DD had perhaps picked up on her fear. We have always played it down, and tried to make the spiders a friendly thing (i.e. incy wincy songs etc) without banging on about it making it an issue. She is in that nursery one morning a week, but recently the fear has got terrible - a few weeks ago when it was sunny she refused to leave the house and was screaming blue murder as the bees and spiders were outside. I mentioned this to the nursery, and they laughed it off and were quite dismissive and said it was quite common - I dont' think it is.
In the past week, when she goes to bed, she will wake up 30mins later, screaming and sweating having been hiding under the covers from the spiders that are in her bed. Now she wont' go to bed and it's such a battle. I have gently and calmly stripped the bed back to show her that there are no spiders there, but it makes no odds. Now my husband has taken to sitting with her to go to sleep which I think is the wrong thing, and he thinks I'm being a bit mean - but it will be me who has to overcome this and deal with it in the long run.
I really don't' know what to do. I'm 33 weeks pregnant, and exhausted and have just shouted at her (I know i shouldn't and i feel awful). But there is no bl**y spider!!! We live in a rural area, where there are lots of insects about and I want her to overcome this as sensibly and kindly as possible. Sorry to go on, any ideas what I can do?? I have told her stories about bees and how they make honey and she seems to have calmed down about them a bit, but ANYTHING to do with spiders!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Arrrgghhh. Again, sorry to go on. Many thanks xxxx