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Felt Cookie Busy Bag for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Felt Cookie Busy Bag for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

January 30, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 6 Comments

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff is one of my absolute favorite children’s books. It’s a total classic that kids (and parents) get a kick out of. This felt cookie busy bag is perfect with it! <br /> As part of the Weekly Virtual Book Club

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers Tagged With: book crafts, Busy Bags, cookies, felt, kids activities, moms, preschool, toddlers

Activities for 2 Year Olds

Activities for 2 Year Olds

January 19, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

These activities for 2 year olds include science, sensory and arts & crafts toddler projects that focus on learning through play. 2 year olds reach so many developmental milestones! From gross and fine motor skills such as running and jumping, to scribbling and building; and communication milestones like stringing words

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Filed Under: Sensory, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddler Science, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: 2 year olds, activities, daycare, Homeschool, preschool, toddlers

45+ Winter Crafts for Preschoolers with Common Preschool Themes

45+ Winter Crafts for Preschoolers with Common Preschool Themes

January 18, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

These Winter crafts for preschoolers all fit within some common themes for this age: arctic animals, hibernation, snow/cold and Chinese New Year.   When I think about preschool, I think about fun themes and tons of arts and crafts. There really is nothing quite like hands-on learning, especially at the

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Winter Tagged With: art, Arts and Crafts, crafts, Homeschool, preschool, winter

Simple Bird Seed Bear Craft for Kids with Free Printable Template

Simple Bird Seed Bear Craft for Kids with Free Printable Template

January 9, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 7 Comments

When I was little I had a piece of artwork hanging on my door. It was a bear outline filled in with bird seed. We did a lot of arts and crafts so I must have thought this was was especially cool because it stayed proudly taped to my door

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: bears, kids books, kids crafts, preschool, toddlers

Fizzing Fireworks Painting: A STEAM Activity for Kids

Fizzing Fireworks Painting: A STEAM Activity for Kids

December 30, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

We love the reaction between baking soda and vinegar. The fizzing and erupting never gets old for my kids, and we have found SO many ways to incorporate this science project into our regular activities. This art project takes the reaction and makes a really fun process art experience that

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Holidays, Learn Through Play, New Years, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddler Science, Toddlers Tagged With: art, fireworks, Holidays, Homeschool, kids art, painting, preschool, steam

Build a Flying Machine STEM Challenge for Kids

Build a Flying Machine STEM Challenge for Kids

December 20, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

We had the best time learning about the principles of flight and (attempting) to build a flying machine out of household items! After watching ‘Twas the Night Before Liftoff’, we learned about lift, weight, thrust, and drag and were determined to hold a little flying machine STEM challenge in our

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Elementary, Learn Through Play, science, Sponsored Work Tagged With: challenge, education, elementary, flying, Homeschool, science, STEM

Learning Colors by Painting with Trains

Learning Colors by Painting with Trains

December 12, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

Kids love trains. Engaging the senses while learning and providing hands-on experiences allow kids the opportunity to make connections with the materials in front of them. After reading the Polar Express this week for the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids, we are doing a really fun color learning activity

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Colors, early education, Homeschool, kids art, learning, preschool, toddlers

Jumping Jingle Bells Process Art

Jumping Jingle Bells Process Art

December 6, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

Process art gives kids the ability to worry less about the finish product, and focus more on the experience of creating the art. Learning occurs through play, giving kids the opportunity to engage in hands-on experiences opens doors to creativity and imagination. This jingle bells process art activity engages many senses,

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Christmas, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts

Kid-Made Ornaments with Pipe Cleaners and Cookie Cutters

Kid-Made Ornaments with Pipe Cleaners and Cookie Cutters

December 5, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

One of my favorite traditions, and my kids’ new favorites, is making ornaments for the Christmas tree. There are so many totally adorable ones out there, we tend to go more the route of kid-made and simple that we can keep and look back on for years to come. These

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Christmas, Holidays, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized Tagged With: christmas decor, diy, Holidays, Homemade, kid made, ornaments

DIY Christmas Sensory Sticks for Kids

DIY Christmas Sensory Sticks for Kids

November 23, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

These Christmas sensory sticks allow for exploration through the senses of smell, touch, hearing and sight, and, they are incredibly simple to put together!    Engaging all the senses is a really fantastic way to promote learning through play. Hands-on play and the ability to really explore materials creates lasting

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Christmas, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: bells, christmas, craft sticks, diy, homemade toy, sensory play

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Welcome to Views From a Step Stool!

Welcome to Views From a Step Stool!

I am a mom to three little ones and love to create and explore every day with them! We have open minds and messy hands, come join in our adventures!

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What’s New

  • 12 Snowman Crafts for Kids
  • 10 Elf on the Shelf Printables to Download
  • 12 Elf on the Shelf Ideas
  • Candy Corn Sensory Bin
  • Emotions Sensory Bag
  • 10 Thanksgiving Handprint Crafts

What’s New:

  • 12 Snowman Crafts for Kids
  • 10 Elf on the Shelf Printables to Download
  • 12 Elf on the Shelf Ideas
  • Candy Corn Sensory Bin
  • Emotions Sensory Bag
  • 10 Thanksgiving Handprint Crafts
  • Build a Jack-o-Lantern Sensory Craft
  • Breakfast Smoothies for Kids with BlendJet Portable Blender
  • 12 Outdoor Painting Ideas for Kids
  • Educational Sensory Bin Ideas
  • 12 Animal Sensory Bin Ideas for Kids
  • 10 Insect Themed Sensory Bins
  • 12 Bee Crafts for Kids
  • 15 Easter Chick Crafts for Kids
  • 15+ Earth Day Crafts for Kids
  • St. Patrick’s Day Emotion Cut and Paste Printable Activity
  • Valentine’s Day Charades Words
  • Printable Color by Number Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids
  • Valentine’s Day Kindness Countdown Calendar: Free Printable
  • Valentine’s Day Pixel Art Color by Number: Free Printables

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