Bugs and Space!

"BUG!" Joshua yells in excitement. We saved yet another spider from our indoor space by scooping him up into our officially titled "BUG CUP" and placing him gently back into the backyard grass. Joshua could save bugs all day long! He is so curious about bugs that since his first day spotting one he yelled, "BUG!" and wanted to touch it. It was a fragile ladybug. Tough enough to survive the harsh environs of the Souther California desert but not rough enough to survive Joshua's curious little hands. What to do then? We want our children to touch, feel and explore with all their senses. In fact I am sure that Joshua, very much still in an oral stage, would have explored that ladybug with his sense of taste as well. So, out of my mouth it came, "Let's give that sweet bug space." And I held up my hand toward the bug with my palm facing it, nearby, but not touching it. Guess what? Joshua did the same thing. And, this has since stuck. Not only for bugs but for a lot of things that he may do better with observing from a close proximity. Examples we have encountered lately, goose poop at the lake, dog poop in a field, and an ant covered banana on the sidewalk. All of these findings were explored with our sense of sight and for some, unfortunately, smell, as we gave them "space." We give bugs space so they can do their important work of pollinating flowers and digging holes in the earth. I teach Joshua that this is giving them respect. The cutest part of this lesson from nature for us is when I see Joshua SO tempted to touch a spider as they are most interesting to him. His hand gets incredibly close and he grunts as his face turns red with huge effort to hold his hand back. He is able though, to give that spider space. How proud I am of his respect for nature. How proud I am of his constant curiosity and love of nature!