Your Child Will Learn
How to prepare a meal and talk about food they like or don’t like
Here’s What to Do
- Gather all of the ingredients you need and set them up together with your child.
- Let your child do as much measuring, pouring and mixing as they can, talking about the steps and amounts of ingredients that you’re using as you go.
- Once your dough is made, let your child take the lead in spreading on the sauce, cheese and toppings (Adding vegetables to the toppings can be a great way to encourage your child to try a new food.)
- Bake the pizza, checking it every 5 minutes to let your child watch what happens as it bakes. When it’s done, enjoy your pizza together!
Put PEER Into Action
PAUSE
- Wash your hands together and listen to the sound of the water coming out of the faucet.
ENGAGE
- “We need 2 and a half cups of flour. Can you scoop 1 cup and level it off with this knife? Now we need to do that same 1 cup one more time, and then a half cup. That makes 2 ½ cups!”
- “Do you know what the yeast is for? Why do we set aside the dough? What do you predict the dough will look like after 20 minutes?”
ENCOURAGE
- Try not to let your child (or yourself) be discouraged by messes. That’s all part of the cooking process!
- Let your child be the lead chef when possible. If they need more support, you can guide their hand with yours.
REFLECT
- Does this pizza taste yummy to you? Why or why not? What would you change about it for next time?
Not Quite Ready
If your child is unable to complete a recipe for a whole meal, help them learn how to prepare a simple snack.
Ready for More
Ask your child to brainstorm delicious pizza toppings and try their creations.
As Your Child Masters This Skill
They can cook a meal from a recipe and describe food they like or don’t like.
Time to Complete
60 minutes
Materials Needed
Mixing bowls, spoons and a flat pan plus recipe ingredients (link to recipe card)