Finally got my 11yo interested in cooking - made pizza from scratch

Nov 251 min read

This has been a win. My oldest has been glued to screens for months and I literally just asked if he wanted to help make pizza dough from scratch. Expected a "no" but he said yes?? Spent like 90 minutes Saturday doing the whole thing - mixed dough, let it rise, stretched it, toppings, the works. He actually ate what he made AND asked if we can do it again next weekend. Small victories but I'm taking them. If anyone has other recipes that are good for this age group I'm all ears because this might be my golden ticket to getting him away from the Xbox.

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Comments(5)

MMarvin T.Regularjust now

The dough rising time is the perfect moment for him to see the 'magic' - didn't do nothing just sat there and it doubled. Kids love that part.

PPete L.Regularjust now

You should keep going with this. Maybe once a week? Don't make it feel like a chore but that window won't stay open forever.

TTodd N.Regular10h ago

This is HUGE. Screen time breaking was hard for us too but once our oldest realized he actually liked cooking it flipped. 90 minutes with his attention is worth like 5 hours of forced "family time."

SShane K.New Dad5h ago

Keep riding this wave. My 12yo is exactly the same and food prep got him off screens more than anything else. Now he wants to do tacos, pasta, cookies. Actually engaged.

TTom R.Regular1d ago

Wait he actually said YES unprompted?? Lock this down before he forgets it happened. Make it a regular Saturday thing. You've cracked the code.