Frog Spawn Sensory Play

Basil Seeds are simply amazing. Not only do they have many heath benefits if used as a food source but they also make a brilliant taste safe sensory activity. Once the basil seeds have been prepared they look like frog spawn. We couldn’t resist creating a Frog Spawn Sensory Play activity and teach Adam about the life cycle of a frog.

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In the packet the basil seeds are tiny. However, when you soak them they absorb the water and expand to 30 times their original size.

I used approximately 100g of Basil Seeds and placed them in a large lunch box. I filled the box with warm water and left the seeds to soak for half an hour.

In our Blue Tuff Spot I placed a log from Nana’s wood, a selection of frog toys, an ice cube tray, three bowls and some formula scoops.

Knowing how Adam can react to messy play I did not expect him to touch the basil seeds at all. However, he surprised me and didn’t hesitate making a frog jump into the goop. He got basil seeds all over his fingers. As the seeds stick to you very easily ensure to have a baby wipe close to hand.

Adam had a wonderful time exploring the basil seeds with the frogs. We talked about where frog spawn comes from, how it changes over time and develops into a frog.

Adam loved using the formula scoops to transfer the basil seeds into the ice cube tray and spent ages wiping each seed off of his hand.

After playing for over an hour I started to tidy up the Tuff Spot. I managed to scoop all of the basil seeds into a lunch box when Adam shouted “No Mum-Mum” and tipped the seeds back into the Tuff Spot. He had managed to make a circle of basil seeds which Adam described as “the moon”. Needless to say the basil seeds remained in the Tuff Spot for some time.

As Basil seeds are a natural product they are safe to eat. However, they do stick to everything. A single basil seed dries out over time and sticks to where it is left. I would advise cleaning away the activity once play has finished. I left ours out over night and had to pick lots of dried basil seeds off of the Tuff Spot Tray.

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