Almost in Focus | Danny Gilleland |

I went last week to the Nola Brantley Library in Warner Robins for one of their summer programs.
Folks from Georgia Southern's Wildlife Education Program brought crittlers for the youngsters
to meet. The program was called Birds of Prey, but had huge cockroaches, frogs, snakes and other
"Creepie Crawlies"

As the animals were taken around for the kids to see and touch, I had one of those moments of revelation.
The youngest kids, who you would think would be the ones being grossed out or scared by the huge bugs and reptiles, were the ones most wanted to touch them. The older kids were the ones who showed the most
fear or dislike.



Go to a park or daycare and watch the children find friends and play together. Same acceptance.
Guess as we get older we have fear and dislike programed into us. Too bad we can't keep some of that child-like acceptance of things different than us.