Cooking with Kids: Developing Fine Motor Skills in the Kitchen

Not only does cooking with kids increase the chances that they'll try new foods, but it is also a wonderful way to develop fine motor skills!  Here is one recipe that my preschooler loves to help me prepare.

Veggies & Dip Pizza

• 2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
• 8 oz. package of cream cheese (softened)
• 1 cup sour cream
• ranch dip package (or your favorite dip mix or spices)
• a variety of veggies for toppings

1. Wash hands!

Fine Motor Work: Turning on water, using soap, scrubbing, rinsing, drying.

2.  Open crescent rolls.  Does this scare the daylights out of anyone else?

Fine Motor Work: Peeling, ripping, and pulling off the label.  Pressing to make the canister POP!

3.  Unroll crescent roll dough onto an ungreased baking sheet for your pizza crust.

Note:  We typically use a smaller baking sheet and buy the Big & Flaky variety of crescent rolls, so this time instead of covering the whole sheet, we made two separate pizzas.  E was happy about this because it meant she had an individual pizza for the veggie toppings she likes best!

Fine Motor Work: Peeling & unrolling the dough.  Patting it down.

4.  Poke fork holes into the crust.  Bake crust in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes.  Allow to cool.

Fine Motor Work: Grasping the fork.  Poking!


5.  Put softened cream cheese and sour cream in a large bowl.

Fine Motor Work: Opening the cream cheese package.  Scooping in the sour cream.

6.  Add the dip mix.  Combine.

Note: You could use a mixer or a spoon, but we love our potato masher!

Fine Motor Work: Pushing, twisting, pressing while grasping the masher.

7.  Spread cheese dip mixture over cooled crust in an even layer.

Fine Motor Work: Holding knife.  Transferring and spreading dip.

8.  Top with mixed veggies of your choice.

Best Tip Ever:  Buy the pre-chopped, sliced, and cleaned veggies from your grocery store salad bar!

Fine Motor Work: Breaking broccoli into small pieces.  Sprinkling toppings & arranging them just so.  

9.  Cut into pieces and enjoy!

Fine Motor Work:  Cutting the pizza.  Taste testing.  Giving a thumbs up!

This post is a part of Fine Motor Fridays! Please enjoy these activities brought to you by my lovely co-hosts:

Snowman Sand Art from P is for Preschooler

Valentines Day Sweet Treat Fine Motor Skills Activities from Little Bins for Little Hands

How to make Foam Lacing Shapes from Powerful Mothering

Transportation Connect the Dots with Numbers from Craftulate

Foam Heart Sticker Mosaic from School Time Snippets

Painting Olympic Figures from Stir the Wonder

50 COOL DIY Toys for Fine Motor Skills from Lalymom

Fine Motor Valentine’s Playdough Play from House of Burke