I saw this idea on our favorite site…Pinterest (originally from Rhodes Bake N Serv)! I couldn’t resist sharing because it was such a great idea for the upcoming holidays. A simple twist on sugar cutout cookies: Mini Cookie Cutter Pizzas. Genius! We believe that cooking with kids is a terrific way to help them learn by using their sense of touch. In this cooking activity, kids have to figure out how hard to press and how to visually line up the cookie cutters in the dough all while feeling the textures of flour,dough, and pepperoni. So many fantastic reasons to get your kiddo into the kitchen today!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Pizza dough, toppings of choice
WHAT TO DO: Pick up some prepared pizza dough at your favorite spot or use Pillsbury pizza dough from the grocery store. Have your children grab their favorite holiday shaped cookie cutters and press into the rolled out pizza dough. We used ornaments, trees, snowmen, stars, and bells. Let your children finish off their mini holiday shaped pizzas with sauce and their favorite toppings. Bake them and enjoy a holiday pizza dinner!
HOW TO CHANGE IT UP:
-For a younger child, simply sprinkle cheese as a topping. If you have an older child, challenge them to decorate their pizza trees with olive garlands or tiny mini pepperoni ornaments, etc.
-Allow the children to knead the pizza dough and get involved with rolling it out for extra fine motor strengthening.
SKILL AREAS ADDRESSED: Bilateral coordination, fine motor skills, proprioception, strength
Want to take a closer look at the skills kids are using in this activity? Check out our Clinical Closeup page, where we break down the skills listed below in terms everyone can understand.
