kat, where many little boys are concerned (and quite a few little girls), encouraging the Buddhistic just goes against their hunting and killing instincts.

When I was around five, and my little brother not quite three, I saw him standing with the screen door open, encouraging in dulcet singing tones, a moth which was crawling on the step, thusly: "Come on in, I won't hurt you!" And as soon as the moth had crawled to a strategic spot, he fatally and deliberately slammed the door on it. I was quite horrified.

And yet he grew up to be a compassionate man who would carry spiders outdoors and rescue injured critters whenever possible. So there's hope for the grandson!