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#PowerofPlay52: A 52 Week Play-Based Learning Challenge

#PowerofPlay52: A 52 Week Play-Based Learning Challenge

February 29, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

Do you play with your kids? Well guess what…then you are also teaching your kids! Through play, children can develop physical, social, cognitive and language skills. Along with two other blogs, Parenting From the Heart and Twitchetts, we have created a weekly #PowerofPlay52 challenge that builds community and focuses on the undeniable power of play! Week 1

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: challenge, instagram, moms, play, play based learning, preschool, toddlers

Plastic Easter Egg Counting Game for Preschoolers

Plastic Easter Egg Counting Game for Preschoolers

February 16, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

By adding some numbers to plastic Easter eggs, kids are encouraged to count and use fine motor skills in this fun Easter egg counting game for preschoolers.   There are so many uses for plastic Easter eggs! This activity encourages counting, matching and fine motor practice. I first saw this Easter

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Filed Under: Easter, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers Tagged With: Easter, fine motor, Homeschool, kids activity, learn through play, learning activity, preschool, projects

25+ Rainbow Crafts and Activities for Learning and Fun

25+ Rainbow Crafts and Activities for Learning and Fun

January 26, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

What better way to celebrate is there than with making some adorable rainbow crafts! Talking about rainbows is such a great way to help little ones learn their colors.   Engaging kids in something fun really helps create those lasting connections. For kids who already know their colors, discuss the order of

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized Tagged With: Colors, fun, Homeschool, kids activities, preschool, rainbows, spring, st patricks day, toddlers

Kindness Candy: Spread Cheer this Holiday Season and Teach Kindness

Kindness Candy: Spread Cheer this Holiday Season and Teach Kindness

December 8, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

Too often this time of year we hear stories about how poorly people can treat each other. It always amazes me that people have the audacity to say or do rude things to one another. I don’t want this post to be negative, and I do see good in people

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Filed Under: Christmas, Gentle Parenting, Holidays, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: acts of kindness, christmas, kids, kindness, preschool, stay at home moms

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

9 Ways to Complete Worksheets WITHOUT a Pencil! FREE Christmas Printables

9 Ways to Complete Worksheets WITHOUT a Pencil! FREE Christmas Printables

November 10, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 4 Comments

   Are you anti-worksheets for preschoolers? I am a HUGE believer in learning through play and tend to stay away from traditional worksheets. That said, I like to take their content and use the worksheets in a number of creative ways without a pencil! I attempt to find ways that

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Christmas, Elementary, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Uncategorized Tagged With: arts, christmas, crafts, fine motor, Homeschool, matching, pre-writing, preschool, printable, toddlers, worksheets

5 Ways to Encourage Unstructured Play in Kids

5 Ways to Encourage Unstructured Play in Kids

October 31, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 8 Comments

Play is SO important. We often appreciate how much enjoyment kids receive from playing with their peers or their favorite toy, however, we often overlook the power of play. While kids are playing, there is so much social, emotional and mental growth occurring. These ways to encourage unstructured play in kids

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Filed Under: Babies, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Parenting, Preschoolers, Toddlers Tagged With: kids, play, preschool, sponsored, unstructured play

Choosing the Right Preschool for Your Child

Choosing the Right Preschool for Your Child

October 20, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 10 Comments

I am so excited to bring this post to you, courtesy of Anna Crowe Bates of Noodle, about choosing the right preschool for your child. Noodle is the leading website helping parents and students make better education decisions. Using our interactive search tools, families can find the right kindergarten, liberal arts

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Filed Under: Parenting, Preschool, Sponsored Work, Uncategorized Tagged With: finding a preschool, noodle, preparing for preschool. adjusting, preschool, search engine

Simple Sight Word Game with Locks and Keys

Simple Sight Word Game with Locks and Keys

June 15, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

While I firmly believe kids should really be focusing on play and fun at a young age, my son has definitely taken an interest in letter sounds and spelling, and I am trying to encourage it in a fun way. This idea came from a lock and key busy bag that I

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschool, Preschoolers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Busy Bags, Games, Homeschool, keys, literacy, locks, preschool, reading, sight words

Learning with Sidewalk Chalk and Paint

Learning with Sidewalk Chalk and Paint

August 15, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

  Learning letter and sight words is something that often occurs through play. When introducing these topics, have kids use their entire bodies and gross motor skills to explore the letters, this helps really wire those connections in the brain. Check out how we are learning with sidewalk chalk!   Learning

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Spring, Summer, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: chalk, Homeschool, learn, moms, outdoors, play, preschool, sight words

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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
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  • Candy Corn Sensory Bin
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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
  • 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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