18 Jul How can making homemade pizzas help your autistic child this holiday?

Making homemade pizzas can offer many advantages to your autistic child during the upcoming holidays. Let’s look at a few:

1. Learning to eat new foods – Making homemade pizza with your autistic child can be a fun way to introduce new foods and vegetables.
2. Hiding veggies – Blending vegetables into the tomato sauce or creatively adding them to the pizza can help your child consume more nutrients without realizing it.
3. Exciting fussy eaters – Personalizing their own pizza empowers children to experiment with ingredients they might otherwise be hesitant to try.
4. Sensory activity – Working with food can enhance your autistic child’s sensory awareness. This is achieved when they play with soft ingredients like dough, feel gooey cheese, or touch crispy vegetables.
5. Motor skill development – Grating cheese is a great opportunity for developing motor skills.
6. Math skills – Pizza-making activities can teach mathematical skills. Younger children can count slices, while older children can measure ingredients.
7. Social interaction – Pizza making promotes social engagement, communication, and turn-taking when involving family and friends.
8. Self-esteem boost – Enjoying a self-made pizza can build confidence and self-esteem, fostering a positive relationship with food and cooking.