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Simple Bird Seed Bear Craft for Kids with Free Printable Template

Simple Bird Seed Bear Craft for Kids with Free Printable Template

January 9, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 7 Comments

When I was little I had a piece of artwork hanging on my door. It was a bear outline filled in with bird seed. We did a lot of arts and crafts so I must have thought this was was especially cool because it stayed proudly taped to my door

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: bears, kids books, kids crafts, preschool, toddlers

Snowball Sight Words on a Sticky Table

Snowball Sight Words on a Sticky Table

January 2, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 7 Comments

We are kicking off January with snowball sight words and the book The Snowy Day as part of the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids. <br /> This activity can be used with toddlers as a fun, snowy scene sticky wall, or with older preschoolers (4-5 year olds) and Kindergarteners

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: preschool, Sensory, sight words, snowballs, snowman, snowy day, sticky table, toddlers, 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

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

Learning with Trains: Simple Pre-Spelling Activity for Kids

Learning with Trains: Simple Pre-Spelling Activity for Kids

December 20, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

Kids love to learn by engaging all of their senses (which is also why I have a slight obsession with sensory play), by touching objects and using gross motor skills while acquiring information, their little brains are just firing like crazy. This is a really fun, hands-on activity that uses learning with

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschool, Preschoolers Tagged With: blogger, Homeschool, learning, literacy, mommy, preschool, reading, sight words, stay at home mom

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

Christmas Tradition: Spot the Decorations Game with Free Printable!

Christmas Tradition: Spot the Decorations Game with Free Printable!

December 12, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

My favorite family Christmas tradition as a child was going on a drive to look at Christmas lights. We would pile into the car, put on the Christmas tunes and go for a nice drive. My siblings and I always liked to point out the most decorated houses and spot

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Filed Under: Christmas, Holidays Tagged With: activities, christmas, fine motor, Games, Holidays, Homeschool, kids activities, preschool

Learning Colors by Painting with Trains

Learning Colors by Painting with Trains

December 12, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

Kids love trains. Engaging the senses while learning and providing hands-on experiences allow kids the opportunity to make connections with the materials in front of them. After reading the Polar Express this week for the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids, we are doing a really fun color learning activity

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Colors, early education, Homeschool, kids art, learning, preschool, toddlers

Printable Winter Games for Toddlers

Printable Winter Games for Toddlers

December 11, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

These printable Winter games for toddlers will keep your little ones busy (and learning) all while having fun! Includes I-Spy, Matching and Bingo!   These printable Winter games for toddlers will keep your little ones busy (and learning) all while having fun! Because our Fall games for Toddlers were so popular, we

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Winter Tagged With: bingo, Games, Homeschool, i spy, matching, preschool, printable, winter

Gift Wrapping Pretend Play and Fine Motor Practice with Recyclables

Gift Wrapping Pretend Play and Fine Motor Practice with Recyclables

November 26, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Gift wrapping pretend play is such a fun activity to do with kids around the holidays, and perfect for building fine motor skills. Cutting, measuring, taping and decorating all incorporate math, art, and motor practice through PLAY. We have been collecting recyclables such as cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls and milk

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Filed Under: Christmas, Elementary, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: christmas, gift wrap, invitation to create, preschool, pretend play, toddlers

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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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