Parenting Our Kids
Giving Time - Teaching Skills for Life

afraid of bugs

by Maureen
(Illinois)

How do we help our 4 year old get over his fear of bugs, especially spiders? He will be in pre-school soon and is also starting soccer. I'm afraid he will be teased quite a bit.

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afraid of bugs

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Fear of Bugs - or anything really..
by: Geoff

Hi Maureen,
I think the answer may be in what has often been
termed as - 'face your fears'.
This is where the poor old sufferer is gradually introduced into doing something they find uncomfortable. By gradual I mean one small step at a time, where each step takes them from a small challenge to the final confrontation.
So for spiders step one may be simply being in the same room as a spider, so explain what is happening and then challenging them to doing it.
Step two could be approaching the spider and looking at it.
Step three might be not freaking out when it moves nearby...
and so on until maybe even handling the spider??
I suppose the individual will need lots and lots of encouragement, praise, sympathy, understanding, etc, etc.....but that's what parents are for!!!