When it comes to bugs, Sofie’s usual response has been: “Ew! A bug - kill it!” I don’t know if this is a typical little girl thing or if I have gone wrong somewhere in teaching her respect for all nature.
But this past week she has been excited about bugs. And I have a Mrs. Spider video rented from the library to thank for that. She now even has a favorite bug - the jewel beetle, because it’s pretty, of course.
I told her that I’ve always been partial to spiders ever since my childhood when I read “Be Nice to Spiders.” That and the fact that they eat all the more annoying bugs like flies and mosquitoes makes them aces in my book.
I don’t know how accurate this statement is, but it does command some admiration for these eight-legged creatures: If spiders didn’t exist we’d have to invent them; the mass of insects eaten by British spiders alone outweighs the UK’s human population.
Photo: IC Bugs Pest Control
After a week of Sofie relating bug stories and facts at the breakfast table (yuck, i know), she has settled upon this: bugs are okay outside, but not in the house. Once they cross the threshold, she is set upon their demise.
But perhaps we can work on saying “yes” to bugs in our garden this spring - learning which ones are beneficial for plant growth and keeping other pests away. The ecological benefits of bugs are plenty, although I am not sure I’ll ever be ready to substitute them for cows.
You can even buy bugs online. Want ladybugs to control the aphids in your garden? Want nematodes to control lawn pests? Shop IC Bugs for all your eco-friendly bug needs.
I’ve since discovered that my daughter’s “kill them” attitude is largely developmental — apparently, four-year-olds are fascinated with violence, and this is completely normal. It also explains why many of Sofie’s stories and Barbie dramas currently include burning, exploding and chopping. It will be a year or two still before she accesses empathy and sensitivity. In the meantime, I may read her that spider book.
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