— October 16, 2024

Has your child only ever seen spaghetti noodles taken out of a box and tossed into a pot on the stove? Probably, the answer is yes. Today you can teach your child where that box pasta comes from. Especially if you have a young budding chef, this is the perfect activity for them. 

This activity is a part of a week of lessons designed to inspire your little chef in and out of the kitchen. Explore more at the button below. You won’t want to miss out on the Go Pasta! game, free printable included.

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Prepare ahead of time for cooking in the kitchen with your child.

Read first to enchant your child.

Before beginning I recommend reading Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola. It’s a whimsical story full of magic. A naughty boy is taught a valuable lesson when the magic pasta pot overflows and begins to fill not only the house but the entire town! Grandma witch is the only one who knows how to control it but she isn’t home. The story will get your kids on the edge of their seats and then inspire them to cook up some of their own pasta.

Select your pasta type.

I specifically chose to make ravioli, stuffed pasta, with my kiddos for two reasons. The first reason is that pinching individual pockets together is very individualized. All three boys (5, 3, and 2 year old) helped me in the kitchen so this was essential. Also, raviolis seemed like a very safe route to go for turning out. 

Making ravioli did require me to make a quick filling before having the kids come into the kitchen. It did not take long to whip something together with a jar of pasta sauce and TVP for us (sauteed meat for most families). 

Choose your recipe.

I do not have a favorite recipe when it comes to homemade pasta. Many have had the desired outcome, easy and yummy noodles! Making pasta at home is rather basic: flour, egg, oil, and salt. Just be sure to choose a recipe that suits your needs. There are many out there for making with and without a pasta maker. Luckily, I have three pasta makers, they all joined me in the kitchen for this activity. But this is why I chose a recipe that does not require an appliance.

A kitchen activity kids will love. 

Mix the pasta dough the old-fashioned way.

The old-fashioned way to make the dough is with your hands. Place the flour in the middle of the counter and make a well in the middle. Next, put all the wet ingredients in the well. 

I let the boys have a lot of fun mixing it with their hands. Just be sure to place the ingredients far enough from the edge. 

Everyone has a turn rolling.

Once the ingredients came together enough I allowed each boy to work their own ball. Then I put them all together myself because the dough was becoming a little difficult to work with. The boys each took turns rolling it out. It was rather tough so I did most of the rolling but they still enjoyed using the rolling pin.

Form and pinch the raviolis.

I cut out squares once the dough was thin enough. The boys filled most of the ravioli squares on their own. They pinched and stamped the edges with a fork entirely on their own. The raviolis turned out better than I was expecting. 

Drop in the boiling water.

The nature of this step meant that no one else helped. However, they all wanted to see what was happening. They carefully, and from a distance, kept an eye on what I was doing. 5 minutes is all it took for each ravioli because fresh dough pasta does not take long at all to cook.

Dinner is pasta!

Once all the raviolis were made I allowed the boys to each have one. The rest we saved for dinner for when Daddy arrived home. We topped them with pasta sauce and cashew-parmesan and chowed down. 

Time in the kitchen is always educational but if I do not plan it then I sometimes forget to invite the boys. Or shoo them away because I have not mentally prepared myself for the inevitable chaos that will ensue. This is why I enjoy planning new and interesting tasks in the kitchen that I know will entice my boys. These new recipes keep them on their best behavior because they aren’t entirely sure what comes next. I can hear my 3 year old asking in his head, “what’s Momma thinking? Pasta comes out of a box. Silly Momma.”

Kitchen activities for preschoolers.

Inspire your 3-5 year old in and out of the kitchen with a week of Pp is for Pasta activities. Learn the names of different types with a game, create a craft while learning about patterns, find coloring pages, and book suggestions. Go to Pp is for Pasta.

Pp is for Pasta is a part of a 26-week curriculum for 3-5 year old’s to learn the alphabet and so much more. Activity ideas, coloring pages, book suggestions, and free printables are available for every letter of the alphabet. The best part is your child will learn more than the alphabet because the activities are designed to be educational as well. Teach science, math, art, nature study, and so much more depending on which activities you choose for each week. Click the button below to explore Letter of the Week. It’s all free!

Homemade Pasta

Activity Instructions