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Views From a Step Stool

Open Minds & Messy Hands

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Moana-Inspired Water Bead Sensory Play

Moana-Inspired Water Bead Sensory Play

July 5, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

Moana is such a fun movie for kids. I love that an empowered young woman goes after her dreams and goals, and my 4 year old loves it to. We made a Moana necklace for dress-up play, some Moana ocean slime, and had a Moana birthday party! This water bead

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

Minions Dessert: Despicable Me Treat for Kids

Minions Dessert: Despicable Me Treat for Kids

July 3, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

We love a good movie night at home. One my kids favorite parts of movie night is eating junk food. I try (for the most part) to keep a lot of junk out of their normal diet, which makes it super special and extra fun when we have movie night.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: almond bark, birthday party, kids cook, minions dessert, party, Recipe, treats

Why You Should Plant a Garden with Your Kids

Why You Should Plant a Garden with Your Kids

May 11, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

6 Reasons Gardening with Your Kids is Important Gardening with your kids is more than just a fun way to spend time outdoors—it’s a rich, educational experience that offers a host benefits for children of all ages. First and foremost, gardening helps foster a love for nature and an understanding

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Summer, Uncategorized Tagged With: garden

Paper Butterfly Craft for Kids with a Party Horn Tongue

Paper Butterfly Craft for Kids with a Party Horn Tongue

May 1, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

One of my absolute favorite kids’ books is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. For this week’s Virtual Book Club for Kids‘ theme of butterflies, we are making a paper butterfly with a tongue that actually extends! Perfect for pretend play and a hands-on approach to learning how butterflies

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Spring, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized Tagged With: butterfly

Lawn Games for the Family: Backyard, Summer Fun!

Lawn Games for the Family: Backyard, Summer Fun!

April 6, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 27 Comments

*This is a sponsored post written on behalf of We Seed America and Mom It Forward. All opinions expressed are my own. See more about the policies and disclosure for this blog here. There are SO many benefits to getting outside every day for kids and adults alike. Not only

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Filed Under: Outdoors, Spring, Summer, Uncategorized

10 Trolls Treats Your Kids Will Love!

10 Trolls Treats Your Kids Will Love!

March 28, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

My kids LOVE the movie Trolls! So much so, we have been listening to the soundtrack non-stop, having random Trolls dance parties, making Troll crafts, and are now making yummy Trolls treats! Need some inspiration? Here are 10 really amazing Troll-themed snacks that your kids will just love.   10

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

Garden Pretend Play with Printable Vegetable Puppets

Garden Pretend Play with Printable Vegetable Puppets

March 13, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

This fine motor garden pretend play activity is perfect for preschoolers! They are learning so much from this project, from vegetable identification, how plants grow and even fine motor exercise perfect for those pre-handwriting skills! Gardening with kids is so valuable.  We did this activity for the Virtual Book Club

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Spring, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: fine motor, garden, kids activities

ABC Monsters Sensory Bin Plus DVD Giveaway!

ABC Monsters Sensory Bin Plus DVD Giveaway!

February 1, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 27 Comments

The ABC Monsters are fun, lovable alphabet monsters from the popular kids’ show that helps children recognize letters through a magical adventure. My own kids really enjoy the show, and love to play with our own letter monsters that we have created in an ABC Monsters sensory bin! My toddler enjoys

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Sponsored Work, Uncategorized Tagged With: alphabet, Homeschool, learning through play, moms, preschool, sensory play, teachers

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

20 Printable Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids

20 Printable Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids

January 5, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

What a fine time of year for kids! A day to celebrate love, kindness and friendship. Little ones love to hand out cards to their friends, and always enjoy looking at the various characters, sayings and illustrations on them. These printable Valentine’s Day cards are all SO adorable, you are

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Filed Under: Holidays, Uncategorized, Valentine's Day

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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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