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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

Fall Sensory Bin With The Schleich Chicken Coop

Fall Sensory Bin With The Schleich Chicken Coop

September 30, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 6 Comments

I like to keep a sensory bin handy each month for the kids to explore, usually corresponding to a theme or a holiday. It provides us with a wonderful opportunity to begin the dialogue for what kinds of activities we will be focusing on. We had the opportunity to review

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Filed Under: Elementary, Fall, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Sponsored Work, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: chickens, creativity, Dramatic Play, fall, imagination, play, review

Halloween Slime for Sensory Play

Halloween Slime for Sensory Play

September 28, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

It’s no secret we LOVE sensory play at our house. The stickier and slimier the better! I know that is not the case for a lot of children, this Halloween slime is the perfect mix of squishy and slimy but it does NOT stick to your hands! Sensory activities encourage

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Filed Under: Elementary, Halloween, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Halloween, Holidays, Homemade, Homeschool, Preschool at Home, Sensory, Slime

S is for Sunflower: Fine Motor Practice

S is for Sunflower: Fine Motor Practice

September 21, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

  We are wrapping up all things summer in our house and focusing on fall! In with the old, out with the new I guess? We had some beautiful sunflowers growing in our garden this year. The kids were both amazed with how the beautiful yellow petals reached toward the

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Toddler Science, Toddlers Tagged With: Explore, Fine Motor Work, Letter of the Week, Letter S, Preschool Homeschool, Sunflowers

Learning Colors with Magic Moves® Rainbow Jam by Educational Insights: Review

Learning Colors with Magic Moves® Rainbow Jam by Educational Insights: Review

September 20, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Does she know her colors yet? I’m sure as a parent you have heard this question a thousand times….at the park by inquiring moms, at your child’s 2 year checkup, or from your need-to-know-everything mother-in-law family members. Comparing children is something we all do, intentionally or not. As we know, each

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sponsored Work, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Colors, Dramatic Play, Learning Toys, Preschool Homeschool

Play Therapy at Home with Puppets on a Stick Rainbow Prancers: Review

Play Therapy at Home with Puppets on a Stick Rainbow Prancers: Review

September 15, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

    While getting my Masters at NYU in Educational Psychology, I took a course on Play Therapy. In hindsight, it was one of the best classes that I attended and has come in VERY handy with my oldest son (4 years old). He is very cautious and analytical, always

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sponsored Work, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Blogging, Communication, Dramatic Play, play therapy, Puppets on a Stick, Self-Expression

Design & Drill Review: STEM Education Through Play

September 9, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

  As a stay-at-home mom of three little ones, I’m constantly on the lookout for activities to engage and entertain them while I manage household chores. While I appreciate and encourage their help with tasks like laundry, dishes, and cooking, there are times when I simply need to focus on

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sponsored Work, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Bloggers, fine motor, math, Mommy Blogger, patterns, Preschool Homeschool, pretend play, STEM, tools, Toys

At-Home Science Experiments to do Every Day

At-Home Science Experiments to do Every Day

September 1, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

It’s no secret we LOVE science experiments in our house and I try to do as much STEM education at home as possible. We typically do a lot of experimenting with household objects using bowls, spoons and old medicine droppers as our materials. Having ‘real’ science tools for creating at-home

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Sponsored Work, Toddler Science Tagged With: Family Fun, Games, Preschool Homeschool, STEM

Zing Zeon Firetek Bow Review: Indoor and Outdoor Fun (and learning!)

Zing Zeon Firetek Bow Review: Indoor and Outdoor Fun (and learning!)

August 4, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

    The Firetek Zeon Bow by Zing is such a fun toy for kids! We were given the opportunity to review the product after meeting them at Sweet Suite this year. First off, we are huge fans of pretty much anything that lights up and ‘glows’. Watching these shoot across

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschoolers, Sponsored Work, Spring, Summer, Uncategorized Tagged With: Blogging, Family Fun, Games, Giveaway. Bloggers, Preschool Homeschool

Treasure Hunt Counting Activity: Sands Alive! Glow by Play Visions Review

Treasure Hunt Counting Activity: Sands Alive! Glow by Play Visions Review

August 4, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

      After falling in love with this product at Blogger Bash, we were given the chance to review it and bring some fun ‘learning through play’ activities to you! Sands Alive! Glow by Play Visions is so much fun and easy to use. If you’ve read this blog before, I am a

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Sponsored Work, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Blogging, Family Fun, Games, Mommy Blogger, Preschool Homeschool, pretend 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
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  • Candy Corn Sensory Bin
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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
  • 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
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  • 15 Easter Chick Crafts for Kids
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  • St. Patrick’s Day Emotion Cut and Paste Printable Activity
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  • Printable Color by Number Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids
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  • Valentine’s Day Pixel Art Color by Number: Free Printables

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