don’t let critters BUG you
If you frequently hear ‘AHH’ while out hiking, chances are you or your child has a fear of bugs (entomophobia) or spiders (arachnophobia), but there are ways to help keep hiking fun and stress-free!
Tips to help exist alongside critters:
Read The Lady and the Spider by Faith McNulty detailed in ‘Songs & Books’ before you go outside
Model calm behavior around critters
Slowly introduce some ‘less frightening’ critters to children (ex. worms, ladybugs, crickets)
Stop and observe critters from a distance (encourage the child to notice interesting things about the critter like a bee pollinating or a spider spinning a web)
Utilize playful ways to observe critters by creating a Critter Maze or Critter Playground
Discuss the usefulness of insects and spiders
Go on a bug hunt -actively looking for insects rather than being surprised by insects is great for children who are afraid
Bug Hunt challenge: count how many insects/spiders you find (hint: insects have 6 legs and spiders have 8 legs) *make it a team challenge with some children being team bug and other children being team spider
Create a Critter Rescue Kit to teach empathy for the critters, not fear! (learn more below)
Create a Critter Rescue Kit!
Creating a critter rescue kit helps children take ownership and feel confident in rescuing critters instead of squishing critters that are found in places they are not safe. (Inside homes, schools, cars, or on sidewalks, picnic tables, etc.)
Learn how to make an easy critter rescue kit, so next time the child encounters a critter in need of rescuing they will know where their rescue kit is located, how to rescue the critter, and where to safely release the critter without much adult help. Rescuing critters teaches children empathy towards all living things. The kindness they show small critters will translate to kindness they show others.
Help critters while also helping raise a kind generation by using critter rescue kits!
Making a Critter Rescue Kit
Find a cup (we recommend a see through plastic cup, so the child can see the critter and not be worried about breaking a glass cup)
Cut heavy paper, cardboard, etc. into a nice square as the portable base of your rescue kit (use a stick ruler to help you cut into a square!)
Decorate your square paper base (&/or your cup) with words, pictures, stickers, etc. or just print out the critter rescue kit PDF we designed below
You’re done! Now agree on a place to keep the Critter Rescue Kit with your children, so everyone knows where to find it when a critter is in need!
Practice How To Use The Critter Rescue Kit
Have your child practice using the critter rescue kit with a toy critter (plastic toy, stuffed animal, paper cut out). By having your child practice, they will feel confident and at ease when there is a real insect in need of rescuing.
How to use the Critter Rescue Kit
Slide the paper under the critter’s body
Quickly put the cup on top of the critter on t with your other hand
Using two hands carefully carry the critter and release it into a safe and healthy habitat
Visit the critter next time you go outside
Releasing a Critter
With each rescued critter, you will not only be teaching your child to be kind to other living things, but also teaching your children about many species habitats. You can research with your child about different critters preferred habitats (it is okay to use the internet to help you!). For example, if you rescue a worm, be sure to place it in a shady moist dirt area.
“After teaching my preschoolers about Critter Rescue Kits and using it consistently in the classroom during the year, when those children went to Kindergarten things were a little different. In the beginning of the school year, their Kindergarten teacher squished a spider in the classroom and the class was mortified and outraged. One of the parents had to make a Critter Rescue Kit with their child and sent it into school the next day with a kind letter to the teacher. The love of critters continued spreading!”
