With all of the wet weather in the UK recently we have taken the opportunity to look for some snails. So J and T went hunting in the undergrowth that is one of our flower beds (yes maybe I need to do a little weeding but I love the greenness of it!).
J is extremely good at spotting bugs – whether because he is closer to them or because he has great eye sight I will never know but very quickly he had found some snails in the bush.
J finds a snail
J is really careful when he finds bugs in the garden – I guess because I’ve spent time with him last summer and over the autumn, winter and spring showing him how to pick them up and not squash them but he carefully picked them off the leaves on the bush and handed them to me.
J amazed as the snail comes out of it's shell
Again it was one of those awe and wonder moments, and when the snail popped out of it’s shell and walked across my hand towards his made his day, or so we thought until I helped get his and T’s hands flat so that the snail could go over all of our hands.
J and T observing snail crawling across their hands
Snail hunting is new favourite past-time of J’s and he will hunt and hunt for them in the bushes at the back of the garden. He’s getting better and finding them in the shade underneath the leaves and bringing them to the top of the leaf, watching them and then putting them back in the shade again.
Our book link for Snail Hunting is Who Ate All The Lettuce. This is a great pop up book on an explore around Farmer Ted’s garden to find which of the beasts has eaten the lettuce. There is a slime trail to follow and lift the flaps as well as great pictures of the different creatures from Bees to frogs to snails and slugs.
The Rhymes are funny and encourage the children to follow the words as they are written along the slime trail. J will frequently pick this as one of his bedtime books and it’s well worth a read of.
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That book looks fantastic! And I love J’s face in the photo where he is handing you a snail!
maryanne @ mama smiles recently posted..Child-Designed Barbie Outfit
You are braver than me. My son has loved snails and frogs lately, too. I’m fine if he wants to touch them but I’m a little squeamish and say “no thanks” when he tries to hand them to me.
Melanie recently posted..10 Ways Your Toddler Can Help in the Kitchen
Oh, I wish we could find snails like these! I have never seen any like them. So cool!
crystal@growingajeweledrose recently posted..The Kids Co-Op- Fun for Summer
Its lovely to see the look of wonder on J’s face, he is so careful and gentle when he picks up the bugs to look at. A great post.
Every year we create an indoor snail garden.
This year the children helped design it.
We grow grass then bring snails in from families gardens.
We love watching them come out of their shells and slowly move around and out of the garden.
We’re constantly raining on them so their garden stays moist.
It’s an activity that I look forward to every spring.
http://strongstart.blogspot.ca/2012/05/snail-moving.html
I love your web site:). This is a little random, but I saw your comment on the mamasmilesblog, about wanting to know where to get started for geo-caching. You would love it!!!:) Caches are hidden everywhere- urban, rural, suburban- and in many countries. I wrote a post a while back about it with instructions on how to get started: http://kidworldcitizen.org/2012/05/16/geo-caching-is-treasure-hunting-with-a-gps/ Enjoy! Ps- your kiddos are adorable. We have 4 kids that are really close in age (ages 4-7) and it is crazy and hectic and noisy, but lots of fun too!:)
Becky recently posted..Spending the Summer Abroad: Mexico
Thank you Becky – it looks really good and something that my husband likes the look of as well. I’ve been popping by Kids World Citizen I love multicultural and have spent most of my early adult hood living in Greece and Central and South America. I think over the summer we will have to give the geo caching a go
Oh wow- you’ve lived all over!!! How cool!
Becky recently posted..Spending the Summer Abroad: Mexico
[...] first found some snails which J knew where they were from our Snail Hunt last week. Yes we had looked at them last year but not in our bug explorer – J liked the [...]
[...] If your children love creepy crawlers as much as my oldest son, this is a must-do. After reading the story Who Ate All the Lettuce?, search for snails in the garden like Rainy Day Mum. [...]
I wanted to let you know I featured your post over at my blog! Thanks for submitting it to All Year Round Blog Carnival: Summer! http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2012/06/summer-links-week-three.html
Hannah recently posted..Summer Links–Week Three!!
Lucky boy to have a Mummy so encouraging of bug hunting. Snails are so cool. You know I have never seen a snail here in Austin.
Rebekah @ The Golden Gleam recently posted..Garden Stone {Craft Fail}
[...] Explore snails with Rainy Day Mum. [...]