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Ds terrified of insects.. Any advice?

6 replies

jillyrg · 14/05/2012 14:29

Hi, can anyone offer me some advice? My 2&1/2 year old son is terrified of insects, flies, spiders etc and it's getting worse. He will no longer walk anywhere, won't come outside to play at home or at nursery. We went to play at the local green with a ball and frisky over weekend and he seen a bumblebee on a dandelion and that was it, game over, he wouldn't stand and I had to carry him. If he see's an insect on the patio through the patio doors he screams and shakes until I've gone out and swept it out of the way.

his key worker at nursery has now commented, they were outdoors playing and she put him down to play and he was screaming and shaking to the point she thought she'd hurt him!
I've tried to encourage him and take him out to play and play with my older son but he just stands at door then goes to play on his own indoors.
He is very slow on talking and I'm not sure on how much he actually understands when am talking to him.

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MrsSheeen · 14/05/2012 15:24

You could try introducing things slowly with some plastic insects, and maybe film clips of insects, "spider in the bath". Ants. Later on you could put something in a jam jar & show him. He'll probably grow out of it¬!

lolo1990 · 14/05/2012 15:51

my friends little girl is the same age and also terrified of 'beasties' as she calls them.. even the tiny ones you have to squint to see.. although she isn't quite as bad as your boy..
yesterday I picked up a lady bird and let it crawl over my hand so she could see it didn't hurt me.. she wouldn't come near me but she didn't cry or create like she normally does either. which was a huge step for her..
it sounds like your boy is genuinely terrified of of creepy crawlies so I don't know what to suggest as seeing you with one might make him a little worried that you will make him touch one..
I think books and films about bugs would be a good start as it will make light of the situation.. like the hungry caterpillar and other age related stories..
i also just found this which i thought had some good ideas www.boston.com/community/moms/blogs/child_caring/2011/09/fear_of_insects.html
i hope this helps, good luck x

TheHouseOnTheCorner · 14/05/2012 15:56

Have you asked nursery for advice? It seems a bit young to suggest cognitive behaviour therapy....have nursery shown any conern at his talking at all? Suggested assesment?

If I were you, I would ask about it....my own DD was terrified of seaweed at a similar age but that's not something you encounter daily....it must be a right pain and awful for him!

TheHouseOnTheCorner · 14/05/2012 15:57

I should clarfy it was your comment on not knowing how much of what you''re saying to him that he understands which is what made me suggest assesment.

upsidewide · 14/05/2012 15:59

Your poor DS.
My elder DS is quite frightened of all things crawly (although admittedly not to the extent your DS is), he is 4 now and seems to tolerate them more now.
How about trying read him the hungry caterpillar book (eric carle) and then
how about getting him a caterpillar house so he can watch them change into butterflies?
or you could get him an ant farm? - but would that freak him out more?

jillyrg · 14/05/2012 18:39

I called them beasties too :) the creepy crawly book and some plastic creepy crawlers are good ideas thanks, I'm off onto amazon just now :)

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