How do I help my 3yr old get over her fear of flies,butterflies (any insect) 10 POINTS?

Question

When she shes a house fly or fruit fly she franticly screams and runs as though she is being chased with a knife. Im truly afraid that she may run into traffic one day.

I have tried to explain that they don't hurt people. But she doesn't believe me. I dont know what to do. Please give me advice on how to help her. I hate to see her go into hyperventilation over a house fly.

Answer 1

This is common, they don't understand and because some bugs bite they get to the point where they think they will all hurt them. Catch a butterfly and show her how harmless it is. Let her touch it. If it makes her feel better let her kill the flies in the house so she sees she is bigger and has power over them.

Answer 2

Here is a kind slow way to teach at the same time as you relieve the idea's. Explain that all insect's start as a type of worm and go through magical phases, but at the same time use the special setup for the butterfly lifecycle. I have used this same kit and it is very neat!

http://insectlore.stores.yahoo.net/butpa...

It is a nice fun way to get your child to interact, learn, and play at the same time. It definitley had me watching constantly!!!! lol

The insectlore company also sells other kits. Like for Ladybug's, Ant's, and i believe a few more types of insects. The company also has masks and fun stuff to play with and pretend your a bug also!!!

Hope you all get it, and enjoy it, cause i sure did!!!

Answer 3

Catch a butterfly start to show her the patterns

Its like a illusion.

Insects are illusions.

Seriously , some people dont know what they;re missing

<3

Answer 4

Exposure is the only solution.

Introduce the bugs to her, and explain that they can't hurt her.

And show her how pretty butterflies are, girls like pretty things, so she might not be as afraid (= xx

Answer 5

Hahah my son is the same way,   I seriously didnt think anyone could possibly be afraid of a butterfly!?!?!  Well he is, flys too lizards beetles anything that is small he is afraid.  He is really only now starting to get over his fear and he is 5, its weird but he started to overcome it about a month ago when i bought a rat, he saw that it is small and doesnt bite him, you can squeeze it pull its tail hug it anything and they just deal with it.. i think it may have triggered something that let him understand not all small things bite.  Because all of a sudden he will touch the pet lizard, and isnt afraid of the crickets or moths that randomly show up in the house.  We where walking in target and he spotted a beetle, he picked it up and named it hermie... most people would be put that down!  But i was so amazed he was actually picking it up!  So maybe it had something to do with the rat maybe not.  My little sisters actually got this butterfly kit where u get little worms that turn into caccoons and then butterflys and you release them outside, you can buy it at walmart maybe if she watches them grow and takes care of them she will be more accepting, and before you release them you can hold one and show her how pretty it is.  Even try catching a fly and let her put some candy or something in a jar for it,,, weird but hey its jus a little bug... :) gl

Answer 6

Fear an instinctual response to potential danger.

The reason she fears the fly is because it is unknown to her. She is threatened by the insect because she doesn't know what a fly is or what it does.

You could buy or borrow a child's book featuring a fly (or any bug) as the main character. There is a book I bought from Barnes and Noble that I read to my little sister every night. She used to be afraid of a lot of bugs, including the fly. The book is about a little girl who wishes she was a fly. Its a cute book written by E. Lockhart, its called "Fly on the wall: how one girl saw everything". Read books like this to her every night, try reading books about different kinds of flies/bugs or give facts about the purpose of flies/bugs.  Explain to her that there is no reason to be afraid of a housefly/bug, tell her that the fly/bug is more afraid of her than she is of it because she is bigger. I would tell my sister that bugs were there to help, not to hurt. For example: I told her that things like bees and butterflies help make pretty flowers. Try to stay away from negitive words, it could make her have an even more negetive feeling towards the housefly/bug. If you have a fear of a certian bug, what ever you do, do not show fear of the bug infront of her. You are her greatest influence and if she sees you cowering then she's going to think the bug can hurt her and she will develop the same fear as you.

Good Luck, I hope this helped!

Answer 7

i am so intrested to see the answers you get the little girl you are explaining sounds exactly like my 3 year old daughter lol