Ogiga said "I'm too scared that the kids would squish the mantis."
You don't know my kids, they are the biggest nature freaks in the world. You give them a forest and they will find any bug you can immagine. In fact my son just brought me home a L1 or L2 Chinese Mantid(I think) that he caught today over his friends house. My wife and I taught them to be respectful of nautre and not to hurt animals or bugs.
Besides, I am always within a few feet of them when they are handling the mantids and we only have one out at a time.
Gut thanks for your concern.
Tony