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Open Minds & Messy Hands

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Felt Rainbow Busy Bag with Printable Template

Felt Rainbow Busy Bag with Printable Template

February 15, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

It’s no secret…I LOVE busy bags! They are so fantastic for keeping kiddos busy ANYWHERE. Whether you need to make a phone call (we all know that’s nearly impossible), are waiting at the doctor’s office, or on a road trip or in an airplane, busy bags will be your life

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, St. Patrick's Day, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers Tagged With: Busy Bags, diy, freebie, Homemade, moms, preschoolers, printable, quiet time, rainbows, toddlers

Rubber Cement and Watercolor Resist Art for Kids

Rubber Cement and Watercolor Resist Art for Kids

January 28, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 8 Comments

This watercolor resist art can turn a canvas into a beautiful work of art! With rubber cement instead of painter’s tape, make any design you want!   This is my one of my absolute favorite painting techniques for kids. We made these pieces of ‘LOVE‘ watercolor resist art for Valentine’s Day to give

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Holidays, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Valentine's Day Tagged With: boredom buster, kids art, painting, resist art, stay at home

25+ Rainbow Crafts and Activities for Learning and Fun

25+ Rainbow Crafts and Activities for Learning and Fun

January 26, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

What better way to celebrate is there than with making some adorable rainbow crafts! Talking about rainbows is such a great way to help little ones learn their colors.   Engaging kids in something fun really helps create those lasting connections. For kids who already know their colors, discuss the order of

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized Tagged With: Colors, fun, Homeschool, kids activities, preschool, rainbows, spring, st patricks day, toddlers

25+ Simple Indoor Kids Activities for Rainy Day Fun

25+ Simple Indoor Kids Activities for Rainy Day Fun

January 26, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 9 Comments

I am all for getting outside in pretty much ANY weather….with that said, we have some REALLY cold days here on the East Coast and definitely need to find some fun (and easy) ways to stay busy indoors. These indoor kids activities use simple household materials and a bit of imagination

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Sensory, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddler Science, Toddlers Tagged With: activities, indoor activities, indoors, kids, learn through play, preschoolers, rainy day, stay at home mom, toddlers

Homemade Puff Paint from Pantry Items 

Homemade Puff Paint from Pantry Items 

December 10, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

Christmas is quickly approaching which means time off from school and spent at home with the family…this can leave a lot of moms with that overwhelming of feeling of “how do I keep them busy and entertained??”, especially once Christmas is over, and you have those few days before the New

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Recipes, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized Tagged With: boredom buster, kids art, paint, stay at home mom

Raisin Box Turkeys: A Thanksgiving Treat for Kids

Raisin Box Turkeys: A Thanksgiving Treat for Kids

November 23, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

This fun Thanksgiving treat for kids transforms mini raisin boxes into turkeys! A craft and party treat all in one fun kids activity.   What a fun way to bring a healthy snack to a preschool Thanksgiving feast! These raisin box turkeys are simple to make and fun to eat,

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Fall, Holidays, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Thanksgiving, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized Tagged With: kids party, kids snacks, raisins, thanksgiving, thanksgiving treat, turkeys

Feeding Frankenstein: Upcycled Halloween Craft

Feeding Frankenstein: Upcycled Halloween Craft

October 12, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 6 Comments

We love upcycling toilet paper rolls! This simple feeding Frankenstein craft can be used a number of ways. They make cute indoor Halloween decorations, or can encourage fine motor practice and counting. We used them for all of the above! Check out how below. Frankenstein Craft What you Need:  

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Halloween, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: counting, fine motor, frankenstein, game, Halloween, Homemade, toilet paper roll, upcycling

Spin Art Apple Bunting!! DIY Festive Fall Decor

Spin Art Apple Bunting!! DIY Festive Fall Decor

October 7, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

We love to eat apples, drink apple cider, pick apples, and make apple arts and crafts in the fall. Basically before we go pumpkin crazy…we go apple crazy. This spin art apple bunting is both easy and fun for kids to make. My kids love to proudly display their artwork

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Fall, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: apple, arts & crafts, bunting, diy, fall, Homemade, spin art

Metallic Paint Poured Pumpkins: Simple, DIY Fall Decor

Metallic Paint Poured Pumpkins: Simple, DIY Fall Decor

October 2, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

This is the perfect fall project to do with kids, that you can actually keep as decor for your house. Paint pouring is a really fun art project to do with kids, because what little one doesn’t love to squeeze the paint bottle?! It can’t just be my kids. I’m constantly

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Fall, Halloween, Holidays, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Thanksgiving, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: arts & crafts, diy, fall, kid made, metallic, paint, pumpkins

Painting with Hexbugs: Combining STEM with Art

July 27, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: For this post, I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  If a post is written based on compensation, it will include a disclaimer stating so as required by law.    

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Sponsored Work, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddler Science, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Arts and Crafts, STEM

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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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