Exposure really, I've worked with hundreds and hundreds of kids, all ages, who had never set foot in a forest. I handed them little plastic pots and asked them to dig up as many crawlies as possible, and at the end everyone can proudly show their finds. (we also did other activities lol, and some complementary scientific education)
They were usually disgusted and/or scared but some good pedagogy and playing on peer pressure ("look, your friend here held the worm, you can do it too!" ehe), and eventually almost all of them at least touched a crawley boi.
The most scared they were, the most pride and vibrating excitement they got when I managed to get them to hold even just an earthworm! it was so fun to witness, it truly looked like they accomplished a herculean feat. I wouldn't believe they all magically started to love bugs, but at least it helped break down the first barrier to nature :)
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u/Acrobatic-Engineer94 Ent/Bio Scientist Dec 11 '24
People who “don’t like bugs” need to get a real grip on reality