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Views From a Step Stool

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Celebrating Arbor Day

Celebrating Arbor Day

April 26, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

  We wrapped up our ‘Earth week’ by celebrating Arbor Day today! How perfect did that work out for us?! We had an eventful day exploring different kinds of trees and how they grow. We began the day at Terhune Orchards; it’s one of my favorite places to take the

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Holidays, Outdoors, Uncategorized

Homemade Bird Feeders: Recycling Toilet Paper Rolls

April 24, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

        We have been discussing recycling as part of our ‘Earth Week’ exploration so have decided to use toilet paper rolls instead of pinecones for these DIY bird feeders! Continue reading to see how babies, or kids with nut allergies, can make these too!   These are

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Outdoors, Uncategorized

Dyeing Easter Eggs with Cool Whip or Shaving Cream

Dyeing Easter Eggs with Cool Whip or Shaving Cream

April 20, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Dyeing Easter eggs with Cool Whip or shaving cream is such a fun baby-safe Easter egg activity. Engage in some fun sensory play while dyeing eggs! This method of dyeing Easter eggs with cool whip or shaving cream is non-traditional and sensory inspired, and SO much fun! My kids love getting

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Easter, Holidays, Sensory Tagged With: Easter, easter egg, egg dye, Sensory

Easter Sticky Wall

Easter Sticky Wall

April 9, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

Today’s activity is so simple to set up, inspires creativity and can be used for a variety of lessons, holidays, etc. I love doing the christmas tree and the Valentine’s heart sticky wall. It is one of our favorite activities and are generally pretty mess-free! This project includes an Easter themed sticky wall,

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Easter, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Easter, easter play, kids activities, moms, sensory play

Very Hungry Caterpillar Craft: Invitation to Create

Very Hungry Caterpillar Craft: Invitation to Create

April 8, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

An invitation to create a Very Hungry Caterpillar craft for kids. Using circular items like cut sponges and citrus halves, kids can create a caterpillar.   The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of our favorite kids books. Eric Carle has such a beautiful style, and the kids love to see

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized Tagged With: book crafts, caterpillar, Letter C, Letter of the Week

DIY Easter Cards: Marble Painting with Homemade Paint

DIY Easter Cards: Marble Painting with Homemade Paint

April 7, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

  Marble painting is a wonderful method of crafting for toddlers and young children but traditionally is not the safest activity for babies because of the choking hazard. However, the technique is one that babies love so we adapted it for A (9 months) and used larger plastic balls (used in

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Easter, Holidays Tagged With: cards, decor, diy, Easter, Homemade, spring

Homemade Flour Paint

Homemade Flour Paint

April 7, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

As some of you know I have struggled with trying to include Ava (9 months) in a lot of the projects that I do with Mack (3 years old). She likes to participate in everything we do and I love watching her explore her little world…however that usually means allowing

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized

Chalk Painting in the Rain

April 2, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

We are not afraid of a little warm rain around here! Especially not after a long winter filled with bitter cold temperatures and loads of snow. We like to play outside whenever we get the chance! Today we took one of our favorite outdoor play activities, drawing with chalk, and

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Outdoors, Uncategorized

Bubble Painting with Homemade Super Bubbles

Bubble Painting with Homemade Super Bubbles

April 2, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

We finally had a glimpse of Spring today with some perfect weather! As a kickoff to Autism Awareness Month people around the world are blowing bubbles, because this is special to our hearts it inspired today’s project. Bubbles are a favorite in our house and can provide not only afternoons

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Outdoors, Uncategorized

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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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