This problem only started about a month ago, before that I couldnt keep him in the house. Now I have a hard time getting him outside at all. He has adhd and is on Ritalin. Could this have anything to do with his obsession with bugs? I am so worried about him. I just want him to enjoy being a kid. Any suggestions on what I should do?
2006-07-20 07:53:04 · 6 answers · asked by belinda f 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
I think it would be a good idea to sit down and have a talk with him. Ask him why he feels so afraid of bugs all of a sudden...did something happen where he got hurt by one? Did he find one crawling on him and it scared him? Have people been telling him scary stories about bugs? Or did he see a trusted adult in his life freak out over a bug?
Children aren't born afraid of things...they are taught. 8 year olds are very impressionable (I have an 8 year old daughter). This would be a good time for you to get some books and/or videos for kids that explain insects and how they live and that they can actually be quite interesting. Charlette's Web would be a great one if he hasn't already read it or seen it. Teach him that bugs are living creatures just like us, they have feelings too, and that they have important roles in this world too. Tell him that they are more afraid of us then we are of them. Education is the key.
On another note, I have the OPPOSITE issue with my daughter. She's so intrigued by bugs that she'll actually see them and say "Aww..isn't he cute?" LOL And she won't let me kill a big in the house or car (or anywhere)...she'll pick it up and free it outside!
Check out www.amazon.com on children's books, videos and games about insects. Here's some names of some books I found on Amazon.com that might be helpful.
The Best Book of Bugs by Claire Llewellyn
Big Book of Bugs by Theresa Greenaway
About Insects: A Guide for Children by Cathryn Sill
Simon & Schuster Children's Guide to Insects and Spiders by Jinny Johnson
Everything Bug: What Kids Really Want to Know About Insects and Spiders (Kids Faq's) by Cherie Winner
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner
Try Ebay or a local book store. Better yet, take him down to the library and see what they have there.
Anyhow, I hope this somehow helps ya! Good luck! ;-)
2006-07-20 08:37:48 · answer #1 · answered by RandomActsOfKindness 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
My 12 year old has been like this for several years. She is not ADHD or ADD at all. No meds. I think she just had a bad experience with bugs. I have been unable to solve this riddle.
Maybe you could get some good kids' books that talk about the benefits of bugs.
Good luck. I am very interested in hearing others' suggestions on this.
2006-07-20 07:58:14 · answer #2 · answered by askme 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My grandson was afraid of bugs also....So we wnet and bought one of those bug house, they are in the toy section and come with this little house, a maginfying glass and tweezer like things to pick them up with. We showed him how to pick them up and put them in the house. Then he could take the magifyer and look at them and see they werent going to hurt him. Now....we can't keep him in....we did have to teach him to let them go after he was done looking at those and find different ones.....Ask the doctor if it has anything to do with his medicine...or maybe he saw a movie or someone told him something about bugs that scared him.....Good luck.
2006-07-20 08:00:35 · answer #3 · answered by lisa46151 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read him a story or make him watch a kid-friendly movie about bugs. (Think: "A Bug's Life" or "James and the Giant Peach" or "The Hungry Caterpillar"). Tell him about bugs, what they do and what they don't and how good they are with what they do for the environment and what they do for us. That he's bigger than they are and that they can't do that much to hurt him. By exposing him (in a positive way) to his fear, you just might help him overcome it. Be nice to bugs too, if he sees that you are not afraid of bugs and that you are even nice to them, he will follow your example. (Kids are borning following everything that their parents do, because they admire them).
Hope this helps!!
2006-07-20 07:59:35 · answer #4 · answered by Mujareh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he might have ocd ( Obbsesive Compuslive Disorder) you should take him to a doctor to get him checked out
2006-07-20 07:57:09 · answer #5 · answered by ~*Katie*~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just take it step bye step
2006-07-20 07:57:11 · answer #6 · answered by dimepiece 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋