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There is no denying that bugs fascinate children.
Children appear to be drawn to anything nasty and crawly. They are fascinated by insects, whether they dive right in and get messy or observe from a safe distance.
Although it may appear nasty to some, insects can teach your children a variety of skills without them even realizing it.
Many parents are concerned about their children being stung or bitten by bugs, but with the proper precautions, bugs can be a helpful addition to your children’s education (and a lot of fun to explore!).
It Gets Kids Outside
This one is self-evident: bugs live outside. Getting children outside to explore their surroundings is always a good thing.
You can compare the bugs in your backyard to those in your nearby park. Perhaps Grandma has more butterflies in her backyard. What makes you think that?
They understand that spiders may appear creepy, but they catch mosquitos in their webs, which limits the population so that there aren’t as many to bite us.
They can learn that birds eat bugs, and that without certain slimy worms, we wouldn’t be able to hear the wonderful singing of a robin in the morning.
This can also help them learn respect. They should not kill plants or trees because they are home to many beneficial insects.
Learning about how bees are linked to crop production and how we wouldn’t have food if it weren’t for the scared and fuzzy creatures is a perfect illustration of this.
Teach Empathy
Bugs are also an excellent way to teach your youngster about kindness and empathy. Although many youngsters like stomping ants or squashing worms, ask them how they would react if this were done to them.
One dead bug here and there may not seem like a huge thing, but putting that spider in a cup and taking it outdoors rather than walking on it can teach your child a lot of compassion.
Teach kids that touching a butterfly can cause the scales that protect its wings to fall off, making it difficult for them to fly and perhaps decreasing their life span.
Allow children to see a video of the hard-working insects as proof why they should not destroy that ant hill with a stick because of all of the great things going on inside of it.
It’s Science!
Bugs help children learn about a wide range of topics.
STEM (the engineering of insect bodies), environment (where they live and what they consume), lifecycles, counting (how many legs does this one have? ), biology, and other aspects of nature such as plants and trees are just a few examples.
Playing with bugs can even teach your children how to conduct research. When your child has a query about creepy crawlies, flip it around and ask them how you can find out the solution – should you go to the library to locate a book, check it up online, ask an expert, or go to the zoo to learn more?
Gets Rid Of The Fear Factor
Keep in mind that, while you should teach your children which insects might bite or sting them, you should avoid instilling needless fear in them by your actions.
If you scream and flee whenever you see a spider or hear a buzz, your kids will do the same.
Knowledge truly is power, therefore study books and watch films about insects to understand more about them. When you see all of the fascinating things spiders can do you might be more inclined to observe what they’re doing instead of rushing away.
Another useful idea for youngsters is to tell them to stay motionless if they hear or see a bee or wasp, and to explain that the insects only bite or sting if they feel threatened by quick movements or loud noises.
It’s vital to be cautious around some insects, but that’s just another reason why learning as much as you can about the bugs you uncover is so crucial.
It’s Hands On
Children learn more effectively by doing. Books and movies are excellent learning aids, but nothing surpasses seeing and touching something real there in front of you.
A child will learn far more than a diagram of the insect’s lifecycle by observing a caterpillar develop into a gorgeous butterfly in an at-home butterfly garden.
There are numerous low-cost instruments available to assist your little learner in getting the most out of their insect searching, capturing, and finding adventure. Nets, binoculars, bug traps, insect vacuums, and magnifying glasses can all be used to get a better look (before releasing their friend back into the “wild”).
There are also the previously mentioned butterfly gardens and at-home ant farms, which bring the enjoyment indoors.
bugs Aren’t Scary! Let Them Play
So, the next time you’re going to divert your child away from the bug they’re chasing, take a moment to consider all of the things you may learn together when you squat down and inspect the creepy crawly with them.