We’re back out in our garden this week for our Exploring outdoors post and venturing beyond our safety gate to the wilderness that is our back-garden. This week it’s the wildlife pond and J’s favourite creature of all time (his obsession really) FROGS!!!!!
His obsession started shortly after T was born last March when to keep him entertained whilst I fed T Rainy Day Dad and various grandparents would take him to look at the frogs, frog spawn, tadpoles and froglets in the pond. His birthday cake and cupcakes were Frog themed last year as well.
Well this week we’ve been back to the pond as whilst gardening we spotted that the frogs were back. So last weekend in the glorious sunshine we headed out to hunt for frogs (it’s been repeated at least 3 or 4 times a day since) and looked for frogs.
Rainy Day Dad and T supervising J's hunt for frogs whilst I take the photo
We only ever go past the gate supervised as although the pond is very shallow it is still dangerous especially for toddlers and babies, but the joy and exploration of nature that it brings each year is worth the -sometimes- hassle of yet again go looking for frogs. The pond is full of different native plants which we let form a cover but each year cut down and thin out. It is also shaded to provide protection from the sun which can get quite intense in the summer as the area faces south. We’ve planted native plants and bog plants around it and at the moment have native spring plants popping up their heads behind it making it a lovely area to go and visit.
J hunting for the frogs
We take the opportunity to talk about how many frogs in the pond – one of the great things about frogs early in the spring is that they come in pairs so we can start to introduce counting in 2′s.
Our frogs are a little behind the ones on the field near us which have already laid Spawn but I can’t wait until they do as then we can start to investigate the life cycle of the frogs properly and not just from books. Flights of Whimsy has some great advice on keeping tadpoles and frogs in preschool classroom but these would apply equally to the home.
This was an unbirthday present for J from Nannie and Grandad Frog (yes he’s actually nick named his grandparents Nannie and Grandad Frog!) and is a great story of a frog that hits his head and forgets who he is and tries to be lots of different animals on the way to finding out who he is.
We really like the sound effects in the book and the pop up’s as well.
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I know a little boy that would love to help supervise the frog hunt! What fun!
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How fun! I love your photos! By the way, my cousin’s little boys calls our Grandma “Grandma Chicken” because she raises chickens. I love to hear those sweet little nick names they give them. I’m sure he’s bestowing quite an honor on Grandad by naming him after his obsession
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So much fun!
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We have a pond too in our backyard and it’s one of our favorite spots. Last year we brought some tadpoles to preschool for some observation time, they class loved it!
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What a great outdoor adventure, and such a blessing to have it right at home! I’m going to have to keep an eye out for the book.
You really do have an amazing garden. i would love to have so much wildlife in mine! A fab adventure!
Thanks for linking to Family frolics!
Multiple Mummy recently posted..Well didn’t you know…there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo!
What fun to have a pond so close to home!!! If we had one I KNOW my boys would want to be out there all the time! (we do have a swamp out back with teeny tiny penny frogs… which are tricky to catch but, it’s fun too) Great opportunities for exploration- I absolutely love it!
The pond is great – we’re trying to create a garden that is a fun place to grow up in and also kind to nature. I think I would love a swamp out the back (minus the mosquitoes of course)
Wonderful posts and photos. What a great time. Frogs are so much fun. We enjoy hearing the bull frogs bellowing at night.
Susan Case recently posted..Why Kids Love Baby Birds – Gardening with Guineas
We used to have a pond right by the house and hear the frogs at night as well – no bullfrogs though, but decided it was a little too dangerous for the children.
You make such lovely adventures out of simple things in the garden. I love all your posts. I do hope you will link this one with Country Kids again this week
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Thank you so much – have linked up again this week and what a great day the kids looked to have had in the stream
That sounds like such a fun book, and he clearly adored hunting for frogs! Thanks for sharing with Learning Laboratory =)
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frogs are a big thing especially as we now have frog spawn as well
Cerys, how fortunate to have this in your back garden. I think you are so right to teach them about the gate, rather than panic & fill in a wonderful resource. I am looking forward to going back to school tomorrow after a long weekend to see how the tadpoles are doing! Thanks for adding this to the link up, Kierna
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I hope your tadpoles were ok over the extended break, we now have frog spawn
so looking forward to having some tadpoles as well and watching them grow.
Great photos and so fab to have a frog pond in your back garden. We have one at Grandma’s and L had a tank of frogspawn in her classroom last year but they would just love to have one in our own garden.
Cathy @ NurtureStore recently posted..Cotton bud art
You can make a small one that frogs will use using half a barrel – if you have a rock steps up to it and collect some frog spawn for a couple of years in a row you will find that the frogs return every year and after 2 years you will have your own spawn in the pond as well.
Oh my God I have total garden envy. You are soooo lucky to have a pond. I had one in a big tin bath but had to get rid of it when Goblin got old enough to be in the garden on his own. My mum has got us some tadpoles so I’ll be having a read of the link to Flights of Whimsy, thanks.
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My boys were excited when their giant mud-hole had frogs in it the other day, and equally disappointed when it dried up. They would love a permanent pond in the backyard!
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I am so terribly jealous right now (but so happy for your kiddos!). I have looked high and low for something similar here in Toronto, but to no avail. Enjoy your spring!
[...] just couldn’t resist this Exploring Outdoors – Frog Hunting post from Rainy Day Mum. We love exploring and playing outdoors and this looks like such fun. We [...]
What a gorgeous garden! What beautiful memories you are making here. I love how you are using the pairs of frogs as a chance to introduce counting by two’s. I’ve featured you on my blog today as one of my favourite posts from last week’s Kid’s Weekly Co-Op link up.
How awesome that you have a pond full of frogs in you own backyard! What fun for any little kid! Thank you for linking up to The Outdoor Play Party!
Rebekah @ The Golden Gleam recently posted..Tape Resist Geometric Art – Favorite Friday
How wonderful to have this pond right in your own back yard! So much opportunity for fun and learning! My parents have a pond that my girls visit in the summers with a couple of frogs. I think they are equal parts fascinated and disgusted by frogs! (Thanks to those fairytales!) LOL Thanks for sharing this at the Outdoor Play Party!
We have a creek where the childrn get to see “Jeremy Fisher” each day (well there are about four frogs and all are called JF) I followed you here from All Year Round SPRING Blog Carnival. My latest spring post is here: http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2012/04/wonderfull-full-of-wonder-wednesday_18.html
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[...] 30. Why stop at just one frog. Go frog hunting. [...]
[...] creating awe and wonder in children and although I’ve seen it with J – especially the frogs they created wonder it’s always been fleeting and of the moment. However last week on Friday [...]
Frogs are fabulous! Thank you for sharing this with the spring carnival.
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