A couple of months ago, a reader sent us a link to an article about the increasing presence of nature phobias in our culture. It seems that the more people live and work in urban areas, the less comfortable they are with the great outdoors. Makes sense, right?
About a week later, I was on a class trip to Insectropolis, a bug museum (yes, you read that correctly) in Lakewood, New Jersey. I have been there at least eight times before, but this time our tour guide said something that struck me. She told the kids that when she started working there, even she was afraid to touch the scorpions. I realized that it doesn’t really matter how interested you are in something. If it is unfamiliar, it is probably going to be uncomfortable.
With how much time our children spend in school and playing sports and hanging out in rather sanitized parks, it turns out we probably need to make a focused and concerted effort if we want them to be comfortable exploring nature. A place like Insectropolis is a cheery and fun place to do that sort of very important work.
Whoever designed the museum has a wonderful sense of humor. Each room has a theme (metamorphosis, body parts, methods of communication, camouflage techniques) that is explained through tongue in cheek designs:
I particularly like the room that has all of the ‘villain’ bugs, like mosquitos and flies, in jail. I thought Theo might be put in the jail for some completely inappropriate climbing, but we managed to flee the crime scene.
Of course there is the termite tunnel. If you ever have a bit of money to burn, just install a long tube in your house and cover it in carpet. Who needs toys? Every child who enters Insectropolis spends a ridiculous amount of time climbing through this thing. Just give up and go with it.
The touch demonstration is great. Every employee I have ever met at Insectropolis has been marvelous at communicating and interacting with children. They teach the kids about hissing cockroaches, scorpions, millipedes, and tarantulas and then bring the critters around for everyone to touch. You can see the wheels spinning–should I touch it? Maybe? Yes? A little…nevermind!
Not all of the kids touched the tarantula. Theo did, but Max shot to the opposite end of the bench. It doesn’t matter, though. It’s the opportunity and exposure that counts. I really do hate spiders. My whole body seizes up when I spot one in my house. I’m pretty sure that I did not touch Rosie the Tarantula on my first visit to Insectropolis, or probably even my second or third. But now I’ll give her a little pet without even blinking. I’ve been desensitized.
Now it’s time to work on the boys. Jeremy included.
