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Views From a Step Stool

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Indoor Camping Activities for Kids: Science, Sensory and Art

Indoor Camping Activities for Kids: Science, Sensory and Art

June 18, 2018 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

These indoor camping activities for kids are excellent for pretend play or for prepping kids for outdoor camping through play.  We have so much fun setting up indoor camping activities and using the theme for pretend play, crafting and games. Here is a list of some of our favorite activities that

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Edible Sensory Play, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Sensory, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers Tagged With: art, camping, Letter C, Preschool Homeschool, pretend play, science, Sensory

45+ Winter Crafts for Preschoolers with Common Preschool Themes

45+ Winter Crafts for Preschoolers with Common Preschool Themes

January 18, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

These Winter crafts for preschoolers all fit within some common themes for this age: arctic animals, hibernation, snow/cold and Chinese New Year.   When I think about preschool, I think about fun themes and tons of arts and crafts. There really is nothing quite like hands-on learning, especially at the

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Winter Tagged With: art, Arts and Crafts, crafts, Homeschool, preschool, 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

Paint Using Leftover Wrapping Paper

Paint Using Leftover Wrapping Paper

December 15, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

There is always so much leftover wrapping paper after the holidays or birthday parties. It’s a shame to just quickly toss it in the trash without re-using it somehow. There are many great ideas for using up this paper (and some of it is SO pretty!). Check out how we like

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Filed Under: Christmas, Holidays, Uncategorized Tagged With: art, Homemade, kids activities, leftover, painting, preschool, recycled, sensory play, toddler

Sensory Stomp Painting with Bubble Wrap

Sensory Stomp Painting with Bubble Wrap

October 17, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

We love process art and the opportunities for combining movement with art. Art is such a wonderful expression of self, and combining many of the senses in art really makes for a fun project. This sensory stomp painting combines almost all of the senses and creates some beautiful works of

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: art, bubble wrap, Homeschool, moms, preschool, process art

Homemade Finger Paint Recipe: Gentle on the Skin

Homemade Finger Paint Recipe: Gentle on the Skin

July 21, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Have you seen the new Ghostbusters movie yet? My oldest son loves the old movies and anything Ghostbuster related. So, we decided to finger paint some ghosts! This homemade finger paint was the perfect recipe for some fun, outdoor summer sensory play and art. And, easy to make and gentle

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Recipes, Sensory, Summer, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: art, diy, gentle, Homemade, kids, paint, play, preschoolers, Sensory, toddler

Campfire Handprint Art with FREE Printable Template!

Campfire Handprint Art with FREE Printable Template!

July 19, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

  This post has been updated since it was originally published in 2014 as Campfire Handprint Art: C is for Camping. I have always been a camper, I love the smell of a campfire, sleeping in a tent, and going on hikes. My kids however have only been camping once!

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers Tagged With: art, edible, finger paint, handprint, kids art, Letter of the Week, process art

C is for Candy Cane: Simple Kids Craft

C is for Candy Cane: Simple Kids Craft

December 13, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

          I’ve had a box of candy canes sitting around waiting for me to come up with some crafty thing to do with them…I got sick of them staring at me, taunting my lack of inspiration, so we smashed them up and made ‘candy cane glitter’.

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Christmas, Holidays, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: art, candy canes, christmas, crafts, glitter, kids activities, kids crafts

Marbled Milk Paper: Science + Art for Kids

Marbled Milk Paper: Science + Art for Kids

May 21, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

This is one of the most fun science experiments for toddlers and preschoolers! Combining science and art, not only is the process really awesome, but you can use the finished product to make some marbled milk prints! It’s so simple, all you need is milk, food coloring, Q-tips and dish

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschool Science, science, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddler Science, Uncategorized Tagged With: art, kids, kids activities, moms, preschool, Preschool Homeschool, science, toddler

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

  • Summer Olympics Bingo Game Printable
  • Constellations for Kids: Constellation Coloring Pages, Flashcards and Science Experiment Printable
  • St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt Printable
  • St. Patrick’s Day Printable Favor Toppers
  • Drawing Garden Game to Print for Kids: Roll and Draw!
  • Printable Valentine’s Day Lunchbox Jokes

What’s New:

  • Summer Olympics Bingo Game Printable
  • Constellations for Kids: Constellation Coloring Pages, Flashcards and Science Experiment Printable
  • St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt Printable
  • St. Patrick’s Day Printable Favor Toppers
  • Drawing Garden Game to Print for Kids: Roll and Draw!
  • Printable Valentine’s Day Lunchbox Jokes
  • Valentine’s Day Color by Number Printables
  • Pin the Carrot on the Snowman Printable Game
  • Printable Christmas Puzzles for Toddlers
  • Christmas Tic Tac Toe Printable Game
  • Christmas Charades Printable Game
  • Printable Coffee Gift Card Holder for Christmas
  • The Gift of Christmas Printable Board Game
  • Christmas Countdown Printable
  • Santa Says Printable Christmas Game
  • Christmas Tree I Spy Printable for Kids
  • Thanksgiving Picture Charades Printable Game for Young Kids
  • Christmas Countdown Dollar Store Craft
  • Roll a Gingerbread Man Christmas Board Game
  • Winter Color by Number Printables

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