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Views From a Step Stool

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Printable Gingerbread Playdough Mat for Christmas Sensory Play

Printable Gingerbread Playdough Mat for Christmas Sensory Play

November 18, 2019 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

This gingerbread playdough mat is so much fun for the holidays. You’ll love this creative and festive learning opportunity for your toddler. This gingerbread playdough mat will bring out the creative side for your child. If you’re looking for the perfect holiday activity, this is the one for your household. 

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Filed Under: Printables, Sensory, Winter Tagged With: playdough mat, sensory play

Summer Bucket List: Sensory Play for the Summer

Summer Bucket List: Sensory Play for the Summer

May 7, 2018 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

This is a summer bucket list of 10 ways to engage in sensory play this summer. Have you wanted to test out a slime recipe? Heard of oobleck? Give it a go!   I love sensory play. Seriously. I LOVE it. I’m cool with the mess (most days) and even

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Filed Under: Outdoors, Sensory, Summer Tagged With: kids activities, outsideplay, sensory play, summer bucket list

35+ Rice Bins for Sensory Play with Kids

35+ Rice Bins for Sensory Play with Kids

March 23, 2018 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

These rice bins are excellent for sensory play with kids. From scented rice and colored rice to seasonal sensory bins, these are great for play & learning.   Sensory bins provide so much learning and fun for kids of all ages! Toddlers can play with this and practice their scooping and

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Sensory Tagged With: colored rice, rainbow rice, rice bins, sensory play

17 Activities Scented with Essential Oils for Kids

17 Activities Scented with Essential Oils for Kids

December 26, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Activities that are scented with essential oils for kids. Perfect for play or sensory integration. Add scent and an extra sensory component for play! *This post contains affiliate links.    Essential oils can be incredibly helpful for kids, especially for those with Sensory Processing Disorder or sensory-seeking behaviors. There are

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Filed Under: Babies, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers Tagged With: essential oils for kids, scented kids activities, sensory play

10 Christmas Sensory Bottles and Bags for Babies

10 Christmas Sensory Bottles and Bags for Babies

November 8, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Sensory play is my favorite way to engage kids in learning. By engaging all of the senses, we process and remember information better. There are many Christmas sensory play ideas for kids, but often sensory play can be messy or contain small parts not suitable for babies and toddlers.  But,

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: christmas, sensory activities for 1 year olds, sensory play

Colored Pumpkin Seeds: Fall Sensory Play and Art for Kids

Colored Pumpkin Seeds: Fall Sensory Play and Art for Kids

October 9, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

My kids always enjoy gutting the pumpkin, it’s like an ultimate form of sensory play!  But we aren’t always sure what to do with all of the pumpkin seeds, there are only so many we can cook and eat. This process of making colored pumpkin seeds was a fun experiment,

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Filed Under: Fall, Halloween, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers Tagged With: fall art, process art, sensory play, toddler art

Gift Guide for Sensory Seekers: Impact Behavior While Kids Have FUN!

Gift Guide for Sensory Seekers: Impact Behavior While Kids Have FUN!

October 3, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Sensory input is so important for kids. We learn best when all senses are engaged and kids who are able to engage in sensory play can receive calming effects almost immediately. For sensory seekers, it can feel nearly impossible to keep up with their demands (just yesterday, my daughter dumped

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Filed Under: Gift Guides, Sponsored Work, Uncategorized Tagged With: gift guide, occupational therapy, sensory play, sensory seeker

Simple Moana Slime for Ocean Sensory Play

Simple Moana Slime for Ocean Sensory Play

June 29, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

This Moana slime has the perfect texture for sensory play and is made with contact solution as a borax alternative. Add some Moana toys and shells and play! The slime craze is real. My 4 year old is obsessed with Moana-anything right now, so naturally when she saw the glitter

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory Tagged With: disney, kids activities, moana, moana ocean slime, ocean play, pretend play, sensory play

ABC Monsters Sensory Bin Plus DVD Giveaway!

ABC Monsters Sensory Bin Plus DVD Giveaway!

February 1, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 27 Comments

The ABC Monsters are fun, lovable alphabet monsters from the popular kids’ show that helps children recognize letters through a magical adventure. My own kids really enjoy the show, and love to play with our own letter monsters that we have created in an ABC Monsters sensory bin! My toddler enjoys

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Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Sponsored Work, Uncategorized Tagged With: alphabet, Homeschool, learning through play, moms, preschool, sensory play, teachers

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

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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

  • 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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