Rhiannon Giles Durham’s 11-year-old daughter has a common fear of bees and spiders: cautious of the potential to sting and bite, but realizing that if treated with respect, the animals are likely to pose little threat. But the mother’s six-year-old son from North Carolina is afraid of all insects (except butterflies): The mere sight of benign creatures such as mosquitoes or flies makes him run.
The fear of insects is widespread among children. However, according to psychologist Nina Kaiser, helping children overcome the usual fears of their childhood is a step in teaching them to deal with any worries as they get older. “Childhood is a perfect time to teach worry or fear management skills that will help children be better prepared for triggers,” she says.
And besides: bugs are everywhere! “We are surrounded by them,” says entomologist Eleanor Spicer Rice, author of Ants: Workers of the World. “If you can find out what they are doing there and learn more about them, your world will be more alive and exciting.”
And that, she says, can help children become environmentally responsible.
“Bugs help sustain life and are one of our greatest allies in creating a harmonious and functioning ecosystem,” says Spicer Rice. “Teach children the important roles of insects in nature, starting with our own appreciation and understanding.”
Whether your child is trying to murder all the innocent bees or freaking out about butterflies, understanding why children behave this way can help parents not only overcome their child’s fears, but also show them the importance of insects . Experts shed light on the science behind childhood bug-o-phobia and offer tips on how to help children deal with it.
Why children fear insects
While a healthy fear of your insects stinging or biting makes sense, a child’s total dislike of a tiny thing that means it does no harm can be frustrating. However, experts say this fear is likely hardwired in our brains.
“Fear is a very basic human emotion that plays a protective role from an evolutionary point of view,” says adult and child psychiatrist Rashmi Parmar.
Essentially, our brains alert us to any perceived danger in order to protect ourselves. For example, a brain that understands that a wasp can sting can react the same way to any large flying insect. Parmar says this can trigger the brain’s “fight or flight” response, releasing the stress hormone cortisol. The resulting increased heart rate and extra blood flow to the muscles helped our ancestors fight back or flee threats – and will likely occur if any type of bug creeps up on your child.
“Unexpected, unfamiliar or rapid movements can make mistakes feel even more unpredictable and threatening,” says Kaiser.
Those freaky moves – as well as a beetle’s many legs, bulging eyes, and crispy outsides (or sticky insides) – can also trigger a disgust or fear response that could be mistaken for fear, says Parmar. In fact, a study conducted by the Georgia Institute of Technology (in collaboration with Orkin) found that the insula of the brain – an area in the cerebral cortex associated with disgust – responded when participants were shown pictures of insects.
What the fear of mistakes looks like
Most children will likely hesitate a little as they grow out of it as they age. But Kaiser says that total fear manifests itself similarly regardless of age.
Children may look uncomfortable, anxious, or upset and are actively trying to avoid or escape mistakes. “Some children may quieter, freeze, or shut down,” she adds. “Other children can get louder, cry or melt, or even run away or hide.”
However, Kaiser believes that a toddler’s reaction is based on emotion – that is, a mistake is just “scary” – while an older child’s reaction is likely to be based on avoidance. (“This insect could sting me” or “This bug crawled around in the trash.”)
Surprisingly, infants and toddlers are often not as afraid of insects as older children because they have not yet learned this behavior. This development phase is more about curiosity and about looking for clues in the people around you “to understand whether and how much they should love or fear something,” says psychiatrist Pavan Madan, who works with children and adolescents and adult works.
“Distraction strategies work best,” he advises. Showing another object or tickling an infant or young child may be enough to take their attention away from the bug without frightening them. It might also be worth giving kids extra cuddle so they know they have nothing to worry about.
While a healthy aversion to insects is normal, Parmar says parents should be on the lookout for long-term fears that affect daily activities, such as when a child refuses to go on an outdoor field trip or play outside. Then a psychiatrist should probably be consulted.
Prevent children from eavesdropping
Exposing children to nature early on is a great way to prevent insect fear from ever creeping in. “This helps them learn about mistakes and how they function in nature, and can reduce excessive anxiety at a later date,” says Madan.
In fact, a 2018 study of school-age children showed that knowledge of insects reduced irrational fears and phobias. Spicer Rice urges parents to teach children the importance of insects and biodiversity – that a healthy ecosystem depends on all kinds of living things, not just the cute ones. Bees may sting, but they also pollinate plants that give us food we depend on. Ants and worms may be freaked out, but they also dig tunnels that provide roots with water and nutrients. Some spiders in some countries may bite, but they do eat a lot of pesky bugs.
