Help with my Goddaughter?

Question

Ok, my best friend is terrified of any and all insects and now I think that she has let her fears rub off on my 2 year old goddaughter. My goddaughter is terrified of bugs now, if she so much as sees a speck of dirt she will start screaming and crying hysterically because she thinks that it's a bug. Her mother has realized what a problem this is, and I am just wondering I can do to help her to kind of get over this fear of bugs she has because I just don't want her to have to go through life with this fear. Thanks for any suggestions!

Answer 1

Well, you need to teach her that some bugs are ok for her to touch and some are not. I would start out by picking up a ladybug and letting her touch it / at least, see that the ladybug is not harming you.

Start out with a ladybug or butterfly and let her get used to them for about a month before you try to introduce another bug.

Answer 2

Fun, bright bug books!!  Mrs. Spider's Sunnypatch is a good place to start!!  Also, you can buy a butterfly "farm".  I think they have them at target.  You send away for the caterpillars and watch them grow into beautiful butterflies.

Answer 3

Some people just have fears and a fear of bugs is a common one actually.  Most of the people in my family are terrified of storms.  Some have other fears that are on the common list.  Chances are she will always be afraid of bugs but she may get use to them as she gets older and learns some aren't going to hurt her.  My 3 1/2 year old is only afraid of spiders because he knows they can bite and cause pain but he will pick up some other kinds of bugs and carry them around but he use to be afraid of all bugs.

Answer 4

Cute bugs!!! Think ladybugs and butterflies...

Perhaps you could get some butterfly eggs and show her how they grow into icky caterpillars then into beautiful, colorful butterflies.

Let her get used to pictures of cute bugs. Maybe buy a Venus flycatcher -- they're really cool!

Also, have the mother start controling herself.