It’s totally understandable and common for children to be afraid of bees, especially if they’re worried about being stung. But we should all want to teach kids about the importance of honey bees to our environment and show them what incredible creatures they are! With the right approach, you can help your child reduce their fear and develop a positive attitude toward honey bees and other pollinators.

*I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is THE cutest beekeeper of all time. She's 3 years old. Start them young!*

1. Educate About Bees’ Importance

One of the best ways to help children overcome their fear of bees is by teaching them about how essential bees are to our environment. Honey bees, along with other pollinators like butterflies, moths, native bees, birds, and bats, play a crucial role in pollinating the plants that produce the fruits, vegetables, and flowers we enjoy. Without bees, many of the foods we eat wouldn’t exist. Share these positive facts to help your child see bees as helpful, rather than scary:

"Bees are like little farmers, helping plants grow by moving pollen from one flower to another."
"Bees make honey, which is a delicious treat and also helps them survive during the winter."
"Without bees, we wouldn’t have some of our favorite foods like apples, strawberries, or melons!"

You can also show them this educational video we created for Salesforce's "Bring Your Kids to Work Day." It provides an engaging explanation of life inside a honey bee colony and highlights why bees are so crucial to our environment.

2. Reframe the Fear of Getting Stung

The fear of getting stung is often at the heart of a child’s anxiety around bees. Explain to them that bees are primarily focused on visiting flowers. Reassure them that bees generally only sting when they feel threatened or in danger. Here are some calming, positive messages to share:

"Bees are peaceful and usually just want to go about their business collecting pollen."
"If we stay calm and move slowly around bees, they won’t bother us."
"Bees are more afraid of us than we are of them! They only sting when they think they need to protect themselves."

You can explain that when a bee is buzzing nearby, it’s not interested in stinging—it’s simply focused on gathering nectar from flowers.

3. Teach Calm Behavior Around Bees

To further reduce anxiety, teach your child what to do if they encounter a bee:

Stay calm: Encourage your child to remain still or move away slowly if a bee comes near them. Explain that swatting at bees can make them feel scared.
Watch from a distance: If your child sees bees on flowers, encourage them to observe the bees from a safe distance. They’ll see how hard the bees are working and may even start to appreciate their role.

4. Use Positive Reinforcement

You can help your child feel more confident by celebrating their bravery whenever they show calm behavior around bees. For example, after calmly observing a bee from a distance, praise them with something like, "You did such a great job staying calm, and the bee didn’t bother you at all!"

5. Introduce Bee-Friendly Activities

A great way to replace fear with fascination is by getting your child involved in bee-related activities. For example:

Plant flowers that attract bees: Planting a pollinator-friendly garden together can help your child see bees as beneficial. Watching bees visit the flowers they helped grow can shift their mindset.
Visit a local apiary or beekeeping event: Visiting a beekeeping farm or participating in an educational event where your child can safely learn about honey bees from experts can ease their anxiety.

*An adorable kid enjoying bee-themed activities at Salesforce's "Bring Your Kids to Work Day" event.*

6. Normalize Bees Through Books and TV Shows

There are many children’s books and documentaries about bees that highlight their importance and show them in a positive light. Reading books about bees or watching shows where bees are the heroes can make them seem less scary. Here are a few of our favorite children’s books about bees:

Helping Your Child Overcome Their Fear of Honey Bees