While most people think food scraps – such as carrot tops, onion ends, celery bottoms, and romaine hearts – belong in the trash can or compost bin, they can be repurposed and enjoyed all over again! Below is a crafty guide to growing your own fruits, veggies, and herbs using materials that you might already have in your kitchen! This is a great springtime activity for all ages with lots of opportunities to work on language skills.

Speech and Language Connections

Expressive language – This is a great time to talk about food names and categories (e.g., Which ones are fruits? Which ones are vegetables?) and learn about parts of the whole – such as stems, leaves, roots, stalks, etc.! Describe the colors, textures, and shapes you see!

Sequencing – Look at the written instructions and pictures to review the steps to planting/repurposing your food items. See if your child can tell you what the next step is as you work! Encourage your child to use complete sentences and include sequence words (such as “first,” “next,” “last”) in their descriptions. 

Following directions – Have your child follow single or multistep directions while creating and/or caring for your planted items (e.g., “pour the water into the bowl” or “pour the water into the bowl, then place the carrot in the water”).

Turn taking and teamwork – If siblings/multiple family members are involved, make sure each person gets a turn to help or complete a step.  This activity provides a great opportunity to collaborate and work together!