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Views From a Step Stool

Open Minds & Messy Hands

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Back to School Sensory Bin with Colored Pasta

Back to School Sensory Bin with Colored Pasta

August 21, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

This school sensory bin uses colored pasta as a base and a wooden bus, school and people toys for kids to play with. A great way to prep for back to school.   When my kids started preschool, our favorite way to prepare for the day was through play. We

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers

Learning with Sidewalk Chalk and Paint

Learning with Sidewalk Chalk and Paint

August 15, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

  Learning letter and sight words is something that often occurs through play. When introducing these topics, have kids use their entire bodies and gross motor skills to explore the letters, this helps really wire those connections in the brain. Check out how we are learning with sidewalk chalk!   Learning

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Spring, Summer, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: chalk, Homeschool, learn, moms, outdoors, play, preschool, sight words

Shark Week Sensory Play

August 14, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

    We have been celebrating Shark Week in our house! While I haven’t actually shown my kids much of the actual shark week on Discovery Channel…shark week is all around us so we are celebrating as well. If you have followed my blog at all, you might know by

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Filed Under: Babies, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers Tagged With: Preschool Homeschool

Homemade Window Paint: Kids Art Outdoors

Homemade Window Paint: Kids Art Outdoors

August 8, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Make your own homemade window paint and take it outside! This is a simple recipe I first saw here that the will kids will love to make and make again. Paint and wash, paint and wash. Homemade Window Paint What You Need: Cornstarch Water Dish Soap Liquid Watercolors (or food

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Spring, Summer, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers Tagged With: Arts and Crafts, fun, kids activities, kids art, outdoors

Gel Sensory Bags and Sunlight for Young Kids

Gel Sensory Bags and Sunlight for Young Kids

August 7, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Gel sensory bags are one of my favorite and super easy go-to sensory play ideas. They are extremely useful for babies as well as older children! Gel sensory bags are one of my favorite and super easy go-to sensory play ideas. I love that they are extremely useful for babies as

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Filed Under: Babies, Learn Through Play, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers, Uncategorized

M is for Mouse: Letter Craft for Kids

July 15, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

      My most recent obsession is teaching phonics and letters in a fun and meaningful way! My 3 year old is really benefiting and connecting to this while my 1 year old is thoroughly enjoying the art projects, its a win-win all around!   Tape resist art is

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: arts & crafts, Homemade, Letter of the Week, letters, m is for mouse, mouse, Preschool Homeschool

DIY Pom-Pom Run

July 14, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Follow my blog with Bloglovin     This project is now on our list of ‘boredom-busters’ as it was fun to make AND play with! Until Ava decided it was more fun to tear the materials off of the wall…but I guess that could be considered a way to play with

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Toddlers

A is for Alligator: Easy Craft for Kids

July 11, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

      Today’s post is all about Ava! I had this activity planned as one of ‘The Letters in My Name’ theme for the month but Mack decided that he was too tired today (pretty out of character so I gave him a pass!).  I decided to let Ava

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Letter of the Week, Preschool Homeschool

Letter C: Clothespin and Cotton Ball Cloud Painting

July 10, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

  We learned 3 ‘C’ words with today’s art activity: clothespin, cotton ball and cloud. We are spending the month looking at the letters in Mack’s name in a fun way! If you haven’t done cotton ball painting you have to try it! It’s a great alternative to a paint

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers Tagged With: Letter C, Preschool Homeschool

M is for Mining for Magnets

July 9, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Follow my blog with Bloglovin   All month long we will be focusing on the letters in Mack’s name through arts and crafts, sensory play and science projects. Rather than sticking to traditional letter of the week learning, I am trying to give letters context and focus more on learning

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Sensory, Toddlers Tagged With: Preschool Homeschool

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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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