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40 Non-Food Valentines for Favors and Gifts

40 Non-Food Valentines for Favors and Gifts

December 26, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 4 Comments

These favors and gifts are all non-food Valentines, perfect for classmates, friends, or even teachers! From preschoolers to elementary school ideas! Valentine’s Day is a fun time for kids to exchange gifts with one another, celebrating friendship and love. It is also a holiday where candy reigns supreme, and sugar

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Filed Under: Holidays, Uncategorized, Valentine's Day Tagged With: favors, gifts, Homemade, preschool, valentines day

3 Gift Guides for Every Kid on Your List

3 Gift Guides for Every Kid on Your List

November 30, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone

I write often about the power of play on my site. It is how kids learn best, by engaging their senses and exploring open-ended, creative and dramatic play. There are many ways in which kids can play without toys, however, we all know how much kids love to play with toys,

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Filed Under: Christmas, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Parenting, Preschoolers Tagged With: christmas, gifts, Holidays, kids, moms, play, Toys

Quiet Toys for Babies: A Parent-Approved Gift Guide

Quiet Toys for Babies: A Parent-Approved Gift Guide

October 13, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

If you walk down a toy aisle for babies, the sight and sounds can be quite overwhelming. Many of the toys require more batteries than all of the remotes in your house combined. While babies love a toy that talks or sings to them while they play, there is great

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Filed Under: Christmas, Gift Guides, Holidays, Parenting, Sponsored Work, Uncategorized Tagged With: babies, christmas, gift guide, gift guides, gifts, kids, kids activities, moms, Preschool Homeschool, toddlers

10 Fun Ways to Celebrate (Outside) with Dad on Father’s Day

10 Fun Ways to Celebrate (Outside) with Dad on Father’s Day

July 5, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

It’s the month of dads! There are so many ways you can get outside as a family to celebrate. From homemade gifts, to tools, ties and socks, there are plenty of things to give dad. Here are some ways you can celebrate and spend time with him, making memories that last a lifetime, all while

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Filed Under: Outdoors, Parenting, Spring, Summer, Uncategorized Tagged With: dads, fathers day, gifts, outside, parenting, play, travel

10 Father’s Day Gifts That Are Absolutely Tool-rific!

10 Father’s Day Gifts That Are Absolutely Tool-rific!

May 20, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Do you have a tool lover in the house? My kids LOVE using Daddy’s tools and building with him, it’s kind of their thing, so Father’s Day always seems like the perfect occasion to make a tool related gift just for dad. It’s often hard to shop for dads, especially

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Holidays, Uncategorized Tagged With: dads, diy, fathers day, gifts, Homemade, kid made, moms, tools

Easter Gift Guide for Kids: $15 and Under!

Easter Gift Guide for Kids: $15 and Under!

March 9, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

Are you, like me, totally into celebrating holidays but kind of over all of the junk that comes along with it?? I have a major sweet tooth, so do my kids, AND I am all about moderation with just about everything in life, so this is by no means a

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Filed Under: Easter, Holidays, Uncategorized Tagged With: basket, cheap, Easter, easter basket, filler, gifts, kids, moms, preschoolers, present, toddlers

Gift Guide for the Active Mind: Ages 3-8

Gift Guide for the Active Mind: Ages 3-8

December 3, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

Does your child have a mind with wheels that never seem to stop turning? I’m sure it is one of those qualities that you absolutely adore, however, you are probably constantly trying to find ways to engage them and keep them occupied in a constructive way. My little guy falls in this

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Filed Under: Christmas, Gift Guides, Holidays, Parenting, Preschool, Sponsored Work, Uncategorized Tagged With: critical thinking, gift guide, gifts, Holidays, imagination, preschool, present, Toys

Gift Guide for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Dramatic Play Toys

Gift Guide for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Dramatic Play Toys

December 2, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 15 Comments

Do your kids love to play pretend?  Quickly outgrowing the baby toys, yet not quite big enough for smaller-piece toys, it can be a challenge to find developmentally appropriate and safe toys for the 2-3 year old age range. Notice that some of my favorite brands included are Melissa & Doug,

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Filed Under: Christmas, Gift Guides, Holidays, Parenting, Sponsored Work Tagged With: Dramatic Play, gift guide, gifts, Holidays, learn through play, presents, reviews, shopping, toddlers, Toys

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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