I have never had a child develop a fear to this extreme before.

It's beautiful here, and the entire time we have been outside ALL WEEK LONG she has screamed if she even THINKS she sees a bug flying. There are leaves falling- they MUST be bugs too because that induces screaming.

She's 3. Quite verbal. I have tried touching the bugs I can catch to show her that there isn't anything to be afraid of. I have tried reading about them in books (fiction and non fiction).

Today is the worst though- there IS a fly in my house. She saw it at lunch and started the freak out. We are 2 hours into rest and she is STILL SCREAMING on/off over the fly- even though I haven't been able to find it for well over an hour. I tried killing it, everyone else is awake thanks to her. It's going to be a LONG cranky afternoon.

Just a few weeks ago she was happily catching ladybugs and grasshoppers. Mom says nothing happened at home, but the fear is there as well.

Any ideas on how to help? It's DESTROYING our outside time- where we spend a great deal of time.

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