Wild Child: Bug Bites

Sometimes I’m caught by a moment that just stands out and reminds me ‘children are so capable when given the tools’.

Recently we went rock skipping at Cold Stream conservation area. I forgot the bug spray. Within 10 minutes my youngest received the first bite, and my heart sank. We had planned a several hour adventure, and I was fully prepared that tears and itchiness would now shorten that plan (biting insects cause extreme discomfort and swelling for my little guy). Without much hope I mentioned seeing plantain nearby, and he surprised me. He hopped up, found the plantain, checked with me that it was the right plant, and set about crushing it to make an itch remedy that he applied himself. Problem solved, and we continued to enjoy our adventure for several more hours.

This experience sat with me. My expectations were tears, grumpiness, and a refusal to keep having fun. I completely underestimated how capable even a young child can be or how empowering it is to solve your own problem. As an educator, I often talk about how providing a little person with the tools and information to be independent can allow them to feel in control of the situation, but as a parent it’s always harder to remember in the moment.  I always want to save the day.

Since that experience, I having been thinking about how those tools and actions we model overtime build towards their ability to cope independently future situations. Every time we talk our children through what to do when they are itchy or have a scrape or can’t climb that tree, we give them a new tool. When we show them how to find the right plant or gently move a worm across the pathway, we model how to respond and problem solve. Each of those smaller actions build a foundation for them to take control and be capable little people, and it takes the pressure off. I don’t need to be there to solve each problem - sometimes I just need to stand nearby and trust them to figure it out on their own.

For more about plantain spit-salve and a few other common plants we use, read here. Please always make sure you have the right plant and right method before choosing to eat or use any plant on yourself or your child.

Written by Tandy Morton, Wild Child Facilitator