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Five-year-old Dawson Gardiner isn?t keen about bugs. In fact, if he sees a spider, his first impulse is to step on it. ?I always say, ?Don?t do that; the spider won?t hurt you. He?s more afraid of you than you are of him,?? says his mom, Stephanie.
Why are many preschoolers frightened of insects and spiders" ?We?re afraid of the things we don?t know about,? says Sabeena Esposito, a biologist with Bugs Without Borders, a Toronto-based organization that helps kids (and adults alike) learn more about the weird and wonderful world of bugs. ?Little kids don?t know what these quick, small creatures are, and often the adults react quite negatively as well.? Getting up close and personal with a few creepy-crawlies can help, says Esposito. Here?s how to do it in a kind and gentle way: 1. Observe and collect

Go out in your backyard and notice the ladybugs eating the aphids in the garden. Watch the dragonflies catch mosquitoes over the lake. Lie on a blanket on a midsummer night and enjoy the dance of the fireflies.
For an even closer look, Esposito recommends collecting non-flying insects. Leave flying critters alone because trapping them can be injurious and unkind. Monarch butterflies, for instance, will die if you try to keep them because they?re programmed to migrate. If your child does capture one of these, encourage her to let it go.
2. Nurture and study

A plastic container, with a few air holes punched in the lid, makes a good terrarium. Little nets a...