How a little dough can dish out confidence in kids

For many children, the best part of making a pizza might be choosing the toppings. At one hands-on class in Kulai, however, they are encouraged to start much earlier – with the dough.

Children taking part in the sessions knead, shape and prepare their own pizzas before watching them bake in a wood-fired oven, giving them a chance to experience the whole process rather than simply decorating a ready-made base.

The idea came about after parents dining at Qulai Pizza began asking owner Shahril Aman, 49, whether their children could have a go themselves. “So, we gave them the opportunity,” he told Bernama.

Photos of the activity gradually led to more enquiries from other families and kindergartens, particularly during the school holidays, and the informal sessions eventually became a regular morning programme.

For Shahril, the appeal goes beyond keeping children entertained: he wants them to experience the effort that goes into making something, from preparing the dough to handling a pizza paddle and seeing the finished result come out of the oven.

“For a group of around 20 children, the activity takes about one and a half to two hours, while larger groups can take up to three hours or more,” he said.

Some children are initially nervous about approaching the wood-fired oven, but Shahril sees that hesitation as part of the lesson.

“We want to boost their confidence because, to them, making a pizza seems difficult. But when they manage to do it, they will think, ‘Oh, I can actually do it!’”

The children are closely supervised throughout, particularly near the oven, while parents, teachers and staff are encouraged to keep the atmosphere positive.

Shahril said simple encouragement can make a noticeable difference. Children who are initially afraid may become eager to try again once they realise they can manage the task safely.

The programme also welcomes children with special needs, including those with autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

Shahril’s wife, who has a background in special education, helps support the sessions, allowing activities to be adapted according to a child’s comfort level and abilities.

Beyond baking, the kampung setting offers other small learning opportunities. Children can see fruit trees and herbs around the premises and observe the firewood used to heat the oven, giving the experience a more tactile feel than a typical indoor class.

Shahril himself did not begin his career anywhere near a kitchen. He previously worked in corporate roles before changing direction during the Covid-19 pandemic and learning pizza-making largely through online videos and experimentation.

That background may be why he sees value in allowing children to try something unfamiliar, make mistakes and discover that a difficult-looking task can become manageable with guidance.

For the children, the reward at the end is simple enough: a pizza they made themselves, still warm from the oven, and the satisfaction of knowing they managed every step along the way.

Qulai Pizza
2023, Jalan Manggis,
Kampung Pertanian,
81000 Kulai, Johor

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