My 13 year old daughter has an extreme phobia of bees and wasps. She runs around hysterically if one comes near her. Any ideas how I can help her get over this? Today is the second time this week we've dealt with her freaking out over bees/wasps.
I don't see this as a "problem", more of "extreme caution" and maybe even some wisdom. I used to have the same fear of snakes - totally irrational, way beyond caution. I got over the irrational part eventually, by learning to recognize the nonpoisonous ones and the poisonous ones, and just safe encounters randomly through the years. I can't imagine how you would go about de-sensitizing a child to a flying insect to which there MIGHT be a deadly allergy - as compared with desensitizing me to snakes by meeting friends' pets etc through the years.
Well for the bee's you can teach her that bee's can only sting once. They then die shortly afterward. It is unlikely a lone bee buzzing around will sting you if you leave them alone. The same can't be said for wasps, hornets, mud dobbers etc. And giving them respectful birth is a wise idea. Tell her also she can avoid attracting such insects by choosing non perfume soaps, and not eating too much fruit like bananas which give off an odor that attract insects. Also she can wear dull colored clothing to avoid them. I know all this because my mother is deathly allergic to bees and wasps. She has spent the past thirty years avoiding them Also by learning more about the insects around us we learn they are there to do a job and a very good one in this case too. That they aren't out to get us is an important attitude to learn. I know I still struggle with teaching my own kids these things.
