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Summer Camp at Home: Themed Crafts, Science, Snacks, Sensory and more!

Summer Camp at Home: Themed Crafts, Science, Snacks, Sensory and more!

April 26, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

It’s almost summer! Let’s be honest…are you wondering how you are going to keep your kids busy, off of electronics, and learning throughout the entire summer! It’s a bit daunting I agree…so let’s do it together! Check out this 6 week summer camp at home that you can easily accomplish with your own

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschoolers, Summer, Toddlers Tagged With: activities, Arts and Crafts, elementary, preschool, science, Sensory, summer camp at home

Nebula Calm Down Jar: Sensory & Science 

Nebula Calm Down Jar: Sensory & Science 

April 18, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 7 Comments

This nebula calm down jar is a perfect mix of calming sensory play and science, all wrapped up into a fun project! With only a few ingredients, you will have captured a little but of outer space in a jar, with a mesmerizing calming effect. We made this calm down

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Parenting, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: calm down jar, emotions, Homeschool, moms, preschoolers, psychology, sensory play, spirited kids, toddlers

Butterfly File Folder Games: Free Printable!

Butterfly File Folder Games: Free Printable!

March 31, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 4 Comments

File folder games are right up there with busy bags for me. I love these types of educational activities that are more about fun than learning. My kids adore them and use them often in places like waiting rooms, restaurants, and even airplanes. They butterfly file folder games are super

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Spring, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: butterfly, kids, learn through play, play, preschoolers, printable, spring, toddlers

6 Ways to Start Seeds Indoors from Recycled Materials

6 Ways to Start Seeds Indoors from Recycled Materials

March 18, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

One of my favorite parts of Spring is starting a garden! I think getting the kids involved in gardening is a great way to teach them about healthy foods, and the importance or not wasting food and knowing how your food is grown. I have started reading garden appliance reviews

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Spring, Toddler Science, Toddlers Tagged With: garden, gardening, indoors, kids, moms, outdoors, seeds

Plastic Easter Egg Counting Game for Preschoolers

Plastic Easter Egg Counting Game for Preschoolers

February 16, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

By adding some numbers to plastic Easter eggs, kids are encouraged to count and use fine motor skills in this fun Easter egg counting game for preschoolers.   There are so many uses for plastic Easter eggs! This activity encourages counting, matching and fine motor practice. I first saw this Easter

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Filed Under: Easter, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers Tagged With: Easter, fine motor, Homeschool, kids activity, learn through play, learning activity, preschool, projects

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

4 Simple Sensory Bags that Kids Will LOVE

4 Simple Sensory Bags that Kids Will LOVE

February 12, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

These baby-friendly sensory bags are baby, toddler & preschooler approved! 4 different ways to make simple sensory bags for all kids. Sensory bags are one of my favorite baby-friendly activities. They provide so much opportunity for exploration and can keep a baby occupied for quite a while! They are great

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Filed Under: Babies, Learn Through Play, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: activities, babies, education, kids activities, play, preschoolers, sensory play, stay at home mom, toddlers

Game Day Busy Bag: DIY Football Field Puzzle with FREE Printable

Game Day Busy Bag: DIY Football Field Puzzle with FREE Printable

February 2, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

I’lll admit it. My kids (and I) have been completely spoiled by On Demand, DVR, Apple TV, etc. We know what we want to watch at all times, access it from somewhere, and stream it, often without commercials. Well occasionally, like during sports games, I want to watch something live!

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers Tagged With: busy bag, diy, football, game day, Homemade, printable, puzzle

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

8 Ways to Play and Learn with Snow: Beyond Snowmen

8 Ways to Play and Learn with Snow: Beyond Snowmen

January 24, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 8 Comments

Growing up in California, we very rarely got snow. When we did, it was so short-lived that we would quickly build a snowman and briefly play before running back inside and warming up with a cup of hot chocolate next to the fire. Now, living on the east coast, our

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Filed Under: Babies, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Toddler Science, Toddlers, Uncategorized, Winter Tagged With: fun, kids activities, learn, learn with snow, play, snow, snow day, stay at home mom

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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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