The Past Pizza Parlor: Fun Activity Ideas

Transform an old cardboard box into a samurai pizza oven for hours of imaginative play.

Instructions:

1. Find a medium-sized cardboard box and tape the bottom shut.

2. Cut a semi-circle opening on one side to act as the oven mouth.

3. Paint the outside of the box to look like bricks or stone.

4. Use red and orange paint inside the box to represent the dragon's fire.

5. Let dry and use for pretend pizza cooking!

You will need:

• Cardboard Box

• Red and Black Paint

• Duct Tape

Create a fun toy that simulates breathing fire like the dragon in the story using simple household items.

Instructions:

1. Cover the toilet paper roll with green construction paper or paint it green.

2. Glue two medium pom-poms on one end for the dragon's eyes.

3. Cut long strips of red and orange tissue paper.

4. Glue or tape the ends of the tissue strips to the inside of the roll opening (opposite the eyes).

5. 5. Have your child blow through the roll from the eye side to make the 'fire' stream out!

You will need:

• Toilet Paper Roll

• Green Construction Paper

• Red and Orange Tissue Paper

• Pom Poms (for eyes)

Design a traditional Japanese headband (Hachimaki) to wear while helping out in the kitchen.

Instructions:

1. Cut a strip of white fabric about 2-3 inches wide and long enough to tie around your child's head.

2. Talk about symbols of strength, cooking, or fire.

3. Let your child decorate the center of the strip with fabric markers (drawing a red circle for the sun or a dragon).

4. Tie it around their forehead before starting a task or cooking together.

You will need:

• White Fabric Strip or Old T-Shirt

• Fabric Markers

A hands-on cooking activity where kids make real pizza dough, learning about yeast and rising.

Instructions:

1. Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Watch it bubble (the dragon waking up!).

2. Add flour and salt, then mix until a dough forms.

3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and let your child knead it—this is great for muscle building.

4. Let the dough rise for an hour, then shape into pizzas and bake.

You will need:

• Pizza Yeast

• All-Purpose Flour

• Mixing Bowl

Set up an obstacle course to train like Eto and Fuji, focusing on balance and agility.

Instructions:

1. Use painter's tape to create a straight line on the floor (or grass) for a 'balance beam' walk.

2. Lay hula hoops on the ground for jumping targets.

3. Set up pool noodles as obstacles to crawl under or jump over.

4. Time your child as they complete the 'Samurai Pizza Delivery' run without dropping a pretend pizza box.

You will need:

• Pool Noodles

• Hula Hoops

• Painter's Tape