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Views From a Step Stool

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Shopkins I Spy Bag: Sensory & Fine Motor

Shopkins I Spy Bag: Sensory & Fine Motor

April 17, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

A Shopkins I Spy Bag for the Surprise a Egg Lover My kids are full on obsessed with all things ‘surprise eggs‘ and Shopkins. YouTube to my kids is what TGIF was to me; the be all end all for technology and entertainment, only instead of Full House and Step

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Sensory, Uncategorized Tagged With: dads, learn through play, moms, play-based education, Preschool at Home, Sensory, surprise eggs

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

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

Simple Ways to Nourish Your Child’s Imagination

Simple Ways to Nourish Your Child’s Imagination

January 15, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 6 Comments

Imagination and creativity are integral components of play in children. As we get older, we tend to focus less on imagination and more on reality. That is, until you have children of your own. They plant you right in the middle of a tea party with stuffed animals, take you

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Filed Under: Edible Sensory Play, Preschool Science, Recipes, Sensory, Sponsored Work Tagged With: breakfast, healthy, imagination, minerals, moms, nesquik, preschoolers, pretend play, toddlers, vitamins

Cranberry Sensory Play for Toddlers

Cranberry Sensory Play for Toddlers

November 21, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 13 Comments

Make an indoor cranberry sensory bin for some simple science and cranberry sensory play with kids! Perfect for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.   Sensory bins are excellent for language development, memory, fine motor skills and more! This cranberry and water sensory bin is simple to put together and easy for

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Filed Under: Fall, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Sensory, Thanksgiving, Toddlers Tagged With: cranberry, fall activities, indoor play, kids activities, science, sensory play, thanksgiving

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

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

‘Inside Out’ Edible Water Beads: Exploring Emotions through Sensory Play

‘Inside Out’ Edible Water Beads: Exploring Emotions through Sensory Play

July 13, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

Have you seen the movie ‘Inside Out’? The movie is about feelings and emotions, a prominent topic in our house at all times. Raising spirited kids,  I am constantly discussing feelings and appropriate ways to deal with emotions. This is usually discussed in our calm down corner, but I also try to talk

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Filed Under: Babies, Edible Sensory Play, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers Tagged With: emotions, feelings, Preschool Homeschool

Peppa Pig Birthday Party for Kids

Peppa Pig Birthday Party for Kids

June 26, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

 A Peppa Pig Birthday Party Are your kids Peppa obsessed like mine are? I admit…I kind of am too. At first I didn’t understand the appeal of the popular Nick Jr. show…until I really watched it…I mean seriously it’s pretty funny. And I also find it kind of endearing when

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Filed Under: Edible Sensory Play, Outdoors, Recipes, Sensory, Spring, Summer Tagged With: birthday party, kids activities, kids party, party, peppa pig, sensory 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
  • 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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