• About
  • Shop
  • Work with Me
    • Guest Post on Views!
    • Policies and Disclosure
    • Sponsored Work
  • Tri-State Family Fun
  • The Mommy View
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Views From a Step Stool

Open Minds & Messy Hands

  • Home
  • Learn Through Play
    • Fine Motor Activities
    • Arts & Crafts
      • Toddler Arts & Crafts
      • Preschool Arts& Crafts
    • Sensory
      • Ultimate Collection of Sensory Bins for Kids
      • Toddler Sensory Play
      • Preschool/Early Elementary Sensory Play
      • Mess-Free Sensory Play
    • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
      • Indoor and Outdoor STEM Challenges for Kids
    • Babies
      • 60+ Awesome Activities for 1 Year Olds! {Tested and Loved}
    • Toddlers
      • Activities for 2 Year Olds
    • Preschoolers
      • Activities for 3 Year Olds
      • 65+ Fun Activities for 4 Year Olds
    • Elementary
      • 55+ Activities for 5 Year Olds
    • Want to Teach Your Kids Through Play?
  • Holidays
    • Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids
      • Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids
      • Free Printable Valentines Cards
    • St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids
    • Easter Activities for Kids
    • Memorial Day/4th of July
    • Halloween Activities for Kids
      • Monster Activities for Kids
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Thanksgiving Crafts,Sensory Play and Printables for Toddlers and Up
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Christmas
      • 30+ Christmas Activities for 1 and 2 Year Olds
      • Christmas Printables for Kids
      • Ornament Crafts for Kids
    • New Years
  • Seasons
    • Spring Activities for Kids
      • March Activities for Kids
      • St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids
      • Easter Activities for Kids
    • Summer Activities for Kids
      • 4th of July Activities for Kids
    • Tons of Fall Kids Activities for All Ages
      • Fall Printables for Kids
      • Apple Themed Kids Activities
      • Apple Crafts for Kids
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Winter
      • January Activities for Toddlers
      • February Activities for Toddlers
      • Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids
  • Sensory Bins
  • Printables
    • Seasonal Printables for Kids
      • Spring Printables for Kids
      • Summer Printables for Kids
      • Fall Printables for Kids
      • Winter Printables for Kids
    • Holiday Printables for Kids
      • Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids
        • Free Printable Valentines Cards
      • St. Patrick’s Day Printables for Kids
      • Easter Printables for Kids
      • 4th of July Printables for Kids
      • Free Halloween Printables for Kids: Games and More
      • Thanksgiving Printables for Kids
      • Christmas Printables for Kids
    • Free Printable Board Games for Kids
      • Printable Camping Games for Kids
    • Printable Bookmarks for Kids
    • Free Printable Playdough Mats for Kids
    • Book Lists
    • Printable Lego Challenges for Kids
  • Exclusive Content for Subscribers
Clay Mosaic Process Art for Kids

Clay Mosaic Process Art for Kids

November 15, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

If you aren’t familiar with process art, the focus is on the process rather than the end result. Art allows for such an expression of self, for learning and for fine-motor skills. All of which, can be stifled when there is a focus on the end result. Don’t get me wrong,

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized

15 Activity Packs for Turkey Day Crafting with Kids

15 Activity Packs for Turkey Day Crafting with Kids

November 9, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving is  wonderful time to celebrate with family. I immediately think of doing some Turkey Day crafting with my kids making table decorations or little gifts for family and teachers. Crafting with kids is such a fun way to get excited for a holiday, and a perfect time to open up a

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Holidays, Thanksgiving, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: Arts and Crafts, crafts, elementary, preschoolers, thanksgiving, toddlers, turkey, turkey day

Spend, Save, Give Jars: Teach Kids How to Manage (and give) Money

Spend, Save, Give Jars: Teach Kids How to Manage (and give) Money

November 6, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

Teaching kids how to be responsible with money is a task in and of itself, helping them understand how to manage it and even allocate some to give to others, can be difficult. Many children don’t grasp the value of money until they start earning it themselves, making it crucial

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Parenting Tagged With: charitable, diy, giving, Homemade, kids crafts, money, recycled

Teach Art Appreciation to Kids Hands-On

Teach Art Appreciation to Kids Hands-On

October 25, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

With the decline of art being taught in many schools, it becomes increasingly important to teach art appreciation to kids at home. Doing this through hands-on activities is a really fun and engaging way to help kids connect with some famous works of art and artists. *This post contains affiliate

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Sponsored Work, Uncategorized

25 Shaving Cream Simple Setups for Play-Based Learning

25 Shaving Cream Simple Setups for Play-Based Learning

October 24, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

Crafting with kids, cooking in the kitchen and preparing snacks, and doing hands-on activities are some of the best ways to learn. The book, The Undeniable Power of Play, focuses on just this, learning through play and hands-on activities. Want to engage in more playful learning with your kids? Check out the #PowerofPlay52 challenge on Instagram, and

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers Tagged With: kids activities, play based learning, shaving cream, tuff spot

Puffy Paint Night Sky: A Glow in the Dark Toddler Art Activity

Puffy Paint Night Sky: A Glow in the Dark Toddler Art Activity

October 24, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

This week as part of the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids, we are reading Time for Bed by Mem Fox. This book is about saying goodnight to all of the animals in the book. It is beautifully illustrated and all of my kids love checking out the different backgrounds

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: Arts and Crafts, book club, Homeschool, kids books, night sky, preschool, sleep, toddlers

Sensory Stomp Painting with Bubble Wrap

Sensory Stomp Painting with Bubble Wrap

October 17, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

We love process art and the opportunities for combining movement with art. Art is such a wonderful expression of self, and combining many of the senses in art really makes for a fun project. This sensory stomp painting combines almost all of the senses and creates some beautiful works of

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: art, bubble wrap, Homeschool, moms, preschool, process art

Fall Tree Button Practice Busy Bag

Fall Tree Button Practice Busy Bag

September 21, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Busy bags are fantastic to have on hand for quiet time, waiting rooms, church, etc. I like to have fun themed ones to take out for different seasons. This button practice busy bag practices and encourages fine motor skills, while allowing for some creativity and imagination when decorating the scene. To

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Fall, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Thanksgiving, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: fall

Yarn Rubbing Process Art

Yarn Rubbing Process Art

September 8, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

By sandwiching yarn in some aluminum foil, kids can create a rubbing template to create artwork! This yarn rubbing process encourages imagination, trial and error, and some fine motor work. As with all process art, this projects really focuses much more on the process of creating the art, rather than

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers

34 Fine Motor Activities to Improve Pincer Grasp

34 Fine Motor Activities to Improve Pincer Grasp

August 11, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

Did you know that you can improve pincer grasp without a pencil? It’s true. There are plenty of fine motor activities that build the muscles in small fingers to help with future handwriting skills. Here are quite a few awesome ones to give little fingers a workout! Fine Motor Activities for

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool, Sensory, Uncategorized Tagged With: fine motor, fun, Homeschool, kids activities, moms, play, preschool, toddler

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • …
  • 25
  • Next Page »

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!

Search the Site

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

Copyright © 2025 · Hello Sweets by Hello You Designs

Copyright © 2025 · Hello Sweets Theme On Genesis Framework