It is the first day of summer today and a good time to think of wildlife both big and small, from insects to elephants, It is time to think of where they live and how they are coping with drought and bushfires, Children love animals and making stories for your children about animals familiar to them is a wonderful way to communicate facts and instill a love of nature.

Cicadas are fascinating creatures and as a child I found there were always numbers of them in the big pussy willow tree in the back yard. This year there are many in the poplar trees at my gallery in Uralla and I have enjoyed introducing my granddaughter to their beauty.

This cicada is called a Green Grocer. It is male cicadas that make all the noise and I remember how boys at school would smuggle several into the classroom and get them drumming when we were all supposed to be working in silence. My granddaughter took one to school this week and her friends were fascinated and asked for more. Some children are scared of creatures even when assured they don't bite or hurt in any way. It is always good for children to be cautious rather than bold when it comes to contact with anything in nature. Cicadas don't bite, but their tiny claws may alarm a sensitive child as it clings onto any surface put within reach. The empty cicada shells are also very interesting and even if your child doesn't want to hold one, they can examine a shell under a magnifying glass, look up information on a computer and try to draw one.

But, how can you tell your child a story about a cicada? Remember, all you need is enthusiasm and imagination.

My first suggestion is to adapt the story of Going on a Bear Hunt, to Going on an Insect Hunt! Storytelling needs some preparation and for this story you will need to go outside and really look at the environment. Where can you hunt for insects? Instead of going through long swishy grass, over water and up a mountain, you may be going through the sand, over the dusty gravel, looking under rocks, creeping under low shrubs, digging through mulch and peering up into the branches of trees, but you're not afraid. Maybe there won't be an cicadas in your garden but there are bound to be some insects. If you can't see any, you can always go to the computer and print out pictures of some insects and hide these in appropriate parts of your garden. Perhaps you will end the story with the children running back to the safety of the house, but then returning bravely, equipped with a bug catcher such as a bottle or box to capture the insect you have found. Then its details can be examined safely as information is discussed. Always help children to release the insects after studying them.

Other suggestions are

• tell your children about how you found a cicada or a grub, butterfly, beetle or any insect when you were a child and how you felt
• find rhymes about creatures and sing them together. There are many websites of useful songs and rhymes e.g.https://www.kidsparkz.com/preschool-sings-insects....and https://www.songsforteaching.com/insectbugsongs.ht...
• Tell your children how insects are thirsty too in the drought and together set up some small water containers such as lids, saucers or small tins in areas of the garden for ants, butterflies, beetles and bees.There are hardly any bees this year. Here is a wonderful photo taken recently in Armidale of bees drinking from a bird bath. We need to nurture them.

Photo by Joan Gates.

Best wishes for telling stories about the creatures in your garden.