• About
  • Shop
  • Work with Me
    • Guest Post on Views!
    • Policies and Disclosure
    • Sponsored Work
  • Tri-State Family Fun
  • The Mommy View
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Views From a Step Stool

Open Minds & Messy Hands

  • Home
  • Learn Through Play
    • Fine Motor Activities
    • Arts & Crafts
      • Toddler Arts & Crafts
      • Preschool Arts& Crafts
    • Sensory
      • Ultimate Collection of Sensory Bins for Kids
      • Toddler Sensory Play
      • Preschool/Early Elementary Sensory Play
      • Mess-Free Sensory Play
    • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
      • Indoor and Outdoor STEM Challenges for Kids
    • Babies
      • 60+ Awesome Activities for 1 Year Olds! {Tested and Loved}
    • Toddlers
      • Activities for 2 Year Olds
    • Preschoolers
      • Activities for 3 Year Olds
      • 65+ Fun Activities for 4 Year Olds
    • Elementary
      • 55+ Activities for 5 Year Olds
    • Want to Teach Your Kids Through Play?
  • Holidays
    • Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids
      • Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids
      • Free Printable Valentines Cards
    • St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids
    • Easter Activities for Kids
    • Memorial Day/4th of July
    • Halloween Activities for Kids
      • Monster Activities for Kids
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Thanksgiving Crafts,Sensory Play and Printables for Toddlers and Up
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Christmas
      • 30+ Christmas Activities for 1 and 2 Year Olds
      • Christmas Printables for Kids
      • Ornament Crafts for Kids
    • New Years
  • Seasons
    • Spring Activities for Kids
      • March Activities for Kids
      • St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids
      • Easter Activities for Kids
    • Summer Activities for Kids
      • 4th of July Activities for Kids
    • Tons of Fall Kids Activities for All Ages
      • Fall Printables for Kids
      • Apple Themed Kids Activities
      • Apple Crafts for Kids
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Winter
      • January Activities for Toddlers
      • February Activities for Toddlers
      • Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids
  • Sensory Bins
  • Printables
    • Seasonal Printables for Kids
      • Spring Printables for Kids
      • Summer Printables for Kids
      • Fall Printables for Kids
      • Winter Printables for Kids
    • Holiday Printables for Kids
      • Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids
        • Free Printable Valentines Cards
      • St. Patrick’s Day Printables for Kids
      • Easter Printables for Kids
      • 4th of July Printables for Kids
      • Free Halloween Printables for Kids: Games and More
      • Thanksgiving Printables for Kids
      • Christmas Printables for Kids
    • Free Printable Board Games for Kids
      • Printable Camping Games for Kids
    • Printable Bookmarks for Kids
    • Free Printable Playdough Mats for Kids
    • Book Lists
    • Printable Lego Challenges for Kids
  • Exclusive Content for Subscribers
5 Steps to Reconnecting with Your Kids After Yelling

5 Steps to Reconnecting with Your Kids After Yelling

February 15, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 4 Comments

I believe in gentle parenting. I do not believe in yelling at, or shaming my children. That said…nobody is perfect. I definitely lose my cool at times, and I yell. I would love to tell you that it never happens and that my parenting is right out of a child

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Gentle Parenting, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: gentle parenting, moms, positive parenting, stay at home mom, yelling

3 Joys of Parenting a Spirited Child

3 Joys of Parenting a Spirited Child

January 23, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 12 Comments

Spirited, intense, even difficult, call it what you wish, it all boils down to the same personality type. The one that can make you want to scream with frustration and giggle with delight, pound your head against the wall with exhaustion then melt into a warm and welcome embrace, or

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Gentle Parenting, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: gentle parenting, kids, moms, parenting, spirited child, stay at homde moms

5 Tips for Easing Toddler Transitions

5 Tips for Easing Toddler Transitions

January 17, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 6 Comments

Transitions can be the source of many toddler meltdowns. If you’re a parent of a toddler, you’ve been there. Often giving up a desired object or activity for a sometimes less desirable activity (i.e. Lunch- heaven forbid we make them eat!) can be quite challenging. Not that it necessarily gets

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Gentle Parenting, Parenting, Sponsored Work Tagged With: gentle parenting, kids parenting, moms, stay at home moms

A Month of Gratitude with Kids: Teach Kindness, Love, and Thanks

A Month of Gratitude with Kids: Teach Kindness, Love, and Thanks

November 1, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 15 Comments

These gratitude activities are great for celebrating a month of gratitude with kids. Grab the free printable included to mark off as you go. I want to give my kids the world, but I also want to help them appreciate what they have, and the people in their lives. We

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Fall, Gentle Parenting, Holidays, Parenting, Printables, Thanksgiving Tagged With: activities, gentle parenting, gratitude, kids activities, kindness, love, november, thanksgiving

Ditch the Handbook: 3 Pieces of UNCONVENTIONAL Parenting Advice

Ditch the Handbook: 3 Pieces of UNCONVENTIONAL Parenting Advice

October 10, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 20 Comments

1. Worry less about what your kids know, rather, focus on how they learn. We’ve all been there…you are at the playground and the child next to yours on the swing looks to be about the same age. The next thing you know, that genius child starts rattling off her ABC’s

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Gentle Parenting, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: advice, attachment parenting, gentle parenting, handbook, parenting, pressure, tips

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!

Search the Site

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

Copyright © 2025 · Hello Sweets by Hello You Designs

Copyright © 2025 · Hello Sweets Theme On Genesis Framework