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3 Rainbow Busy Bags Made from Dollar Tree Foam Sheets

3 Rainbow Busy Bags Made from Dollar Tree Foam Sheets

March 7, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions and ideas expressed are my own. I received the product mentioned in this post for free from Dollar Tree. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Thank you! When it

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, St. Patrick's Day, Toddlers Tagged With: Busy Bags, Dollar Tree, foam sheets, Homeschool, preschool, rainbow, toddlers

Felt Cookie Busy Bag for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Felt Cookie Busy Bag for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

January 30, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 6 Comments

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff is one of my absolute favorite children’s books. It’s a total classic that kids (and parents) get a kick out of. This felt cookie busy bag is perfect with it! <br /> As part of the Weekly Virtual Book Club

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers Tagged With: book crafts, Busy Bags, cookies, felt, kids activities, moms, preschool, toddlers

Activities for 2 Year Olds

Activities for 2 Year Olds

January 19, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

These activities for 2 year olds include science, sensory and arts & crafts toddler projects that focus on learning through play. 2 year olds reach so many developmental milestones! From gross and fine motor skills such as running and jumping, to scribbling and building; and communication milestones like stringing words

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Filed Under: Sensory, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddler Science, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: 2 year olds, activities, daycare, Homeschool, preschool, toddlers

Snowball Sight Words on a Sticky Table

Snowball Sight Words on a Sticky Table

January 2, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 7 Comments

We are kicking off January with snowball sight words and the book The Snowy Day as part of the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids. <br /> This activity can be used with toddlers as a fun, snowy scene sticky wall, or with older preschoolers (4-5 year olds) and Kindergarteners

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: preschool, Sensory, sight words, snowballs, snowman, snowy day, sticky table, toddlers, winter

Fizzing Fireworks Painting: A STEAM Activity for Kids

Fizzing Fireworks Painting: A STEAM Activity for Kids

December 30, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

We love the reaction between baking soda and vinegar. The fizzing and erupting never gets old for my kids, and we have found SO many ways to incorporate this science project into our regular activities. This art project takes the reaction and makes a really fun process art experience that

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Holidays, Learn Through Play, New Years, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddler Science, Toddlers Tagged With: art, fireworks, Holidays, Homeschool, kids art, painting, preschool, steam

Learning Colors by Painting with Trains

Learning Colors by Painting with Trains

December 12, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

Kids love trains. Engaging the senses while learning and providing hands-on experiences allow kids the opportunity to make connections with the materials in front of them. After reading the Polar Express this week for the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids, we are doing a really fun color learning activity

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Colors, early education, Homeschool, kids art, learning, preschool, toddlers

Printable Winter Games for Toddlers

Printable Winter Games for Toddlers

December 11, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

These printable Winter games for toddlers will keep your little ones busy (and learning) all while having fun! Includes I-Spy, Matching and Bingo!   These printable Winter games for toddlers will keep your little ones busy (and learning) all while having fun! Because our Fall games for Toddlers were so popular, we

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Winter Tagged With: bingo, Games, Homeschool, i spy, matching, preschool, printable, winter

Gift Wrapping Pretend Play and Fine Motor Practice with Recyclables

Gift Wrapping Pretend Play and Fine Motor Practice with Recyclables

November 26, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Gift wrapping pretend play is such a fun activity to do with kids around the holidays, and perfect for building fine motor skills. Cutting, measuring, taping and decorating all incorporate math, art, and motor practice through PLAY. We have been collecting recyclables such as cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls and milk

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Filed Under: Christmas, Elementary, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: christmas, gift wrap, invitation to create, preschool, pretend play, toddlers

DIY Christmas Sensory Sticks for Kids

DIY Christmas Sensory Sticks for Kids

November 23, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

These Christmas sensory sticks allow for exploration through the senses of smell, touch, hearing and sight, and, they are incredibly simple to put together!    Engaging all the senses is a really fantastic way to promote learning through play. Hands-on play and the ability to really explore materials creates lasting

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Christmas, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: bells, christmas, craft sticks, diy, homemade toy, sensory play

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

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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

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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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