Exploring Bees, Wasps, and Safety with Children: A Hands-On Experience for All

At Nature's Lab, we believe in turning everyday moments into rich opportunities for learning and connection. We took a walk with the children around our outdoor classrooms to explore the fascinating world of bees, wasps, and yellow jackets—and to learn how to stay safe outdoors, especially during warm-weather months when stinging insects are more active.

A Walk with Purpose

As we walked, children were encouraged to help spot potential nests and observe insects safely from a distance. This gave us a chance to talk about:

• The difference between bees, yellow jackets, and wasps: Bees are fuzzy and often gentle; yellow jackets are shinier and more aggressive; wasps fall somewhere in between.

  
  

• Why bees matter: They pollinate plants, helping us grow fruits and vegetables. The kids were also very clear that the fact that bees make honey is very important to them (and to us honey-loving adults, too!).

  
  

• Why do we protect bees but are cautious of yellow jackets? Bees usually only sting when provoked and then die afterward. Yellow jackets can sting repeatedly and are more likely to build nests near play areas.

  
  

We introduced new vocabulary too, like colmena (Spanish for beehive), helping children connect language learning with real-world experiences.

Safety First (With Honesty and Options)

While we do everything possible to approach pest management in a green, organic manner, sometimes safety requires us to choose a different approach. When we discovered yellow jacket nests near play areas, we used a foaming hornet and wasp spray to ensure the children wouldn’t be at risk of being stung. We chose this particular product because it was fast-acting and effective from a safe distance. You can find the exact product we used on Amazon here (affiliate link).

Essential Safety Tips for Using these types of sprays:

• Use the spray as night falls, when insects are less active.

• Wear gloves and safety glasses to protect yourself.

• Do not stand directly below the nest while spraying to avoid drips.

• Knock the nest down the next day to prevent insects from returning.

• Keep children and pets away from the area until the product has dried completely, ideally the next day.

• Encourage children to observe from a distance and refrain from engaging directly in removal or spraying.

  
  

We know every family has different preferences when it comes to pest control, so here are a few alternatives:

• Toxic but highly effective: Chemical foaming spray (Amazon affiliate link). Use with extreme caution and only when children are not present.

• Non-toxic but very oily: A peppermint oil-based spray like this natural repellent (Amazon affiliate link). It’s safer for kids and pets, but may require multiple applications, and the sprayed area will be oily afterwards.

• Manual removal (with professional help): For those who prefer a completely chemical-free approach, consider hiring an eco-friendly pest control service to remove nests safely.

  
  

Including Children in the Process

This experience wasn’t just about insect safety—it was also about empowering children with knowledge and involving them in observation-based learning. Here are some ways to bring these conversations home:

Older kids could be more involved in the process. In this case, knocking down nests the next day and practicing safety ladder skills.

Conversation Starters:

• “What do you notice about that flying insect?”

• “How can we tell if that’s a bee or a wasp?”

• “Why do you think bees are important?”

• “What could we do if we see a nest near our house?”

These simple questions help children build awareness, curiosity, and respectful attitudes toward nature.

A Gentle Reminder

You don’t need special tools or gear to build nature awareness. Even noticing insects on your way to the car, or watering the plants together after dinner, can open the door to these meaningful conversations, and helping kids learn about insect behavior can decrease fears and hesitation to interact in outdoor activities.

Thank you for trusting us to explore the natural world alongside your children—safely, respectfully, and with a spirit of wonder.

Disclosure: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We only share books and resources we truly believe in and use within our Nature’s Lab community.

Affiliate link in this post:

https://amzn.to/3ZBajPU Spectracide Wasp and Hornet Killer

https://amzn.to/4kPAcE4 Wondercide - Wasp and Hornet Killer Aerosol Spray with Natural Essential Oils