Body Pizza is a great sensory strategy for those that crave deep pressure modulation at any age. It provides proprioceptive input to help your child to feel calm and regulated. This activity can be completed if your child is having difficulty focusing, becoming dysregulated or as part of your nighttime routine to help calm before bed.
Start this activity by having your child lay on a soft surface like the couch, bed or carpet. Explain to your child that you are going to make them a body pizza on their back. You can make this activity interactive and have your child choose toppings or a quiet game where you will choose for them. Start by kneading the dough on their back, applying firm pressure. You can choose the motions to do this. Then continue to add sauce, and other toppings such as cheese, ham, mushroom. Apply different pressure to various areas of your child’s back and arms. You can use various items to provide different pressure and sensations i.e. hands, cushions, weighted balls. Then finish the Pizza by baking it in the oven and slicing it.
