Overprotective parents with animals

I find that quite sad, to be honest. Surely it's much better to teach children to love nature and animals (but also how to behave around animals). And they also need to be outside in the fresh air and enjoying nature to build up their own natural immunity to things in general.

It is a shame that the children are frightened of insects and spiders. As to dogs ... a healthy wariness is to be encouraged for their safety and well bing.

I think that’s terribly sad. My aunt was like this with my two lovely cousins!

Particularly as “dirt” = “germs” and animals = “dirt”

As the children grew older and more independent, in their teens, they did get much less anxious and scared and we had a dog whom they quite liked along with my hamster.

I never liked visiting my aunty, her house was completely immaculate and I felt nervous I would spill a crumb!

It’s brought up on a farm so used to a variety of animals. I too think it’s sad that parents influence their children to such an extent, even causing them to be anxious and afraid of nature. It doesn’t bode well for them, later in life.

This is your daughter?
I wonder what made her so anxious?

No she’s my daughter inlaw, also not keen in animals, my daughter is the other way, has dogs and she loves them 🐶

I used to live a few doors down from a family that were paranoid about germs. They had a little boy same age as mine (2), and I could see into their back garden. Mine was out in all weathers, digging up garden with me, making mud pies and stomping in puddles.

Their poor little boy ALWAYS went in to the garden in apron and rubber gloves and wellingtons even in height of summer. Not that that happened often. He was so pale, asthmatic and always ill. not surprised really. I wonder what happened to him, hope he’s hale and hearty.

What a shame. Yes, I’ve known the odd parent who’s convinced her child that all animals are ‘dirty’, inc. one who wouldn’t even let her dd stroke a rabbit at some event where they were there for young children to stroke.
I also feel so sorry for children whose parents pass on their fear or anxiety about dogs, so that they’re petrified of even the friendliest dog.

Yes it’s sad, I always made mud pies, so did my children, but my sons wife is the opposite, and now the children 👧

I had a neighbour who used to take her little boy to a mother and toddler group. He would spend the whole morning strapped in his pushchair so he didn't get on the floor and get dirty!

Did the children not go to nursery? Our nurseries here positively encourage the children to go out and play outdoors - with things like mud kitchens and so on. We have a photo of my grandson at nursery literally covered from head to toe in mud - and as happy as the proverbial pig in it!

And what does your son do to counteract this?

He trys, but his wife is the boss 😆 he wanted a dog last year, but DIL overruled.

Yes they have attended nursery, but not sure if they played mud pies

I worked with a mum of two young children, she had ocd and the children lived very restricted lives because of her fear of germs, it was very sad. The marriage broke up but in time with support she was able to relax a little but I often wonder about the children who were so affected by this.

DGS2’s nursery has chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits. He’s very hands on (he’s just 3) compared to some of the other children who are just plain terrified! Such a shame.

You should read the hysteria on Mumsnet about animals, dogs in particular. So many poor dogs are rehomed or put to sleep after a baby arrives because the woman is paranoid about germs or the dog attacking the baby, even though it's the soppiest creature going. New mothers also seem to feel they can't possibly cope with a baby and a dog!

You would expect there to be a balance of replies on the subject but the majority of posters are in perfect agreement. Dogs are dirty, dangerous and any new mum would go insane if she even contemplated looking after both.

I suppose there has always been this attitude to some degree but sadly I think it's becoming the norm due to younger people's sanitised and bubble existence.

No wonder allergies and behavioural disorders are on the increase.

My eldest GS hates bees and flying insects, always has done and no amount of reassurance has changed him.
My Sister in Law is terrified of spiders won't go in a room if she sees one.
Some people just don't like creepy crawlies.
Some people don't like animals.
It's quite often just the way they are and nothing to do with a protective parent.
Dogs are a major commitment and owning one is hard work, with small children and work many couples just don't have the time for one.

When we were kids we collected caterpillars in jars and made mud pies. Feel sorry for the caterpillars now. The obly insects I avoid are wasps because I got stung on the lip by one as a child and had to be taken to A&E with allergic reaction.

Wher we were small we had an outside loo. Very large spiders would sometimes lurk there. My sister was terrified of them. She would ask me to go out and remove them or kill them so she could go. Several times she wet herself because I said no.

Now I collect spiders carefully if I find them in inconvenient places and put them outside.

I know of many adults that are afraid of spiders, insects, birds etc, it usually starts in childhood learnt from the parents behaviour, such a shame to set them up for a lifetime of fear.

I don’t understand this, my granddaughters nursery nurtures the childrens love and care of animals. They have just hatched some chicks which she was so excited about. They have a man called The Animal Man who comes each term with spiders, lizards snakes and more. All the children get to hold, they love it. They have visited a llama farm and walked the llamas also a care pony visited who they all adored.
My daughter is never bothered about her playing and getting mucky, also sometimes I get told off for helping her on climbing frames and walls or coming down poles etc, my daughter says she has to try and work it out for herself. She is a real daredevil and has lots of bruises. But we know some other Mums who won’t let the children climb, balance, roll down hills, jump off things - in case they hurt themselves. I find this sad they are missing out on so much.

A friend was delighted when her toddler refused to finger paint as her hands would get dirty 🙄
A zooologist friend allowed his students only one negative reaction, they could avoid spiders OR snakes OR some other creature but only one!

I have to fess up here. All our family love animals but when we emigrated I put the fear of God into our little 2 year old about spiders because she used to touch them in the UK. I said all the Australian spiders were poisonous and would make her very sick if she touched them. She is terrified of them to this day and is now 52 years old ! A lesson in how to start a phobia.

I made a lot of mud pies too and decorated them beautifully with leaves and presented them to my mum. She said they were delicious!