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Views From a Step Stool

Open Minds & Messy Hands

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Indoor Camping Activities for Kids: Science, Sensory and Art

Indoor Camping Activities for Kids: Science, Sensory and Art

June 18, 2018 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

These indoor camping activities for kids are excellent for pretend play or for prepping kids for outdoor camping through play.  We have so much fun setting up indoor camping activities and using the theme for pretend play, crafting and games. Here is a list of some of our favorite activities that

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Edible Sensory Play, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Sensory, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers Tagged With: art, camping, Letter C, Preschool Homeschool, pretend play, science, Sensory

Drawing Clouds in Shaving Cream with ‘Little Cloud’

Drawing Clouds in Shaving Cream with ‘Little Cloud’

February 13, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

Drawing in shaving cream is such a fun and classic preschool activity. What a great way to combine sensory play with learning. It is great for developing fine motor and pre-handwriting skills in kids. This week, with the Weekly Virtual Book Club, we read Little Cloud by Eric Carle {affiliate link}. My kids

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Filed Under: Sensory Tagged With: books, Homeschool, kids activities, literacy, preschool, Sensory

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

Red, White & Blue Colored Salt Army Sensory Bin

Red, White & Blue Colored Salt Army Sensory Bin

August 27, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

This army sensory bin celebrates all of our brave men and women. Check out how we make our colored sensory salts for the base of this bin!   Three cheers for the red, white and blue! This army sensory bin celebrates the United States and all of the brave men

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Filed Under: Elementary, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Memorial Day/4th of July, Preschoolers, Sensory, Uncategorized Tagged With: fourth of july, Holidays, kids, kids activities, memorial day, play, Sensory, veteran's day

Homemade Finger Paint Recipe: Gentle on the Skin

Homemade Finger Paint Recipe: Gentle on the Skin

July 21, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Have you seen the new Ghostbusters movie yet? My oldest son loves the old movies and anything Ghostbuster related. So, we decided to finger paint some ghosts! This homemade finger paint was the perfect recipe for some fun, outdoor summer sensory play and art. And, easy to make and gentle

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Recipes, Sensory, Summer, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: art, diy, gentle, Homemade, kids, paint, play, preschoolers, Sensory, toddler

The Basics of Baby Safe Play: Babies Can Play Too!

The Basics of Baby Safe Play: Babies Can Play Too!

June 6, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

One of the comments I get the most when talking about sensory play, arts & crafts and science for kids, is “but my baby still puts everything in his/her mouth“. As our babies get older, but aren’t quite ‘big’ kids yet, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep them occupied, finding activities

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Filed Under: Babies, Learn Through Play, Sensory, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized Tagged With: activities, babies, baby-safe, edible, Homemade, kids, play dough, Sensory, toddler

Summer Camp at Home: Themed Crafts, Science, Snacks, Sensory and more!

Summer Camp at Home: Themed Crafts, Science, Snacks, Sensory and more!

April 26, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

It’s almost summer! Let’s be honest…are you wondering how you are going to keep your kids busy, off of electronics, and learning throughout the entire summer! It’s a bit daunting I agree…so let’s do it together! Check out this 6 week summer camp at home that you can easily accomplish with your own

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Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschoolers, Summer, Toddlers Tagged With: activities, Arts and Crafts, elementary, preschool, science, Sensory, summer camp at home

Shopkins I Spy Bag: Sensory & Fine Motor

Shopkins I Spy Bag: Sensory & Fine Motor

April 17, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

A Shopkins I Spy Bag for the Surprise a Egg Lover My kids are full on obsessed with all things ‘surprise eggs‘ and Shopkins. YouTube to my kids is what TGIF was to me; the be all end all for technology and entertainment, only instead of Full House and Step

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Sensory, Uncategorized Tagged With: dads, learn through play, moms, play-based education, Preschool at Home, Sensory, surprise eggs

Halloween Slime for Sensory Play

Halloween Slime for Sensory Play

September 28, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

It’s no secret we LOVE sensory play at our house. The stickier and slimier the better! I know that is not the case for a lot of children, this Halloween slime is the perfect mix of squishy and slimy but it does NOT stick to your hands! Sensory activities encourage

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Filed Under: Elementary, Halloween, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Halloween, Holidays, Homemade, Homeschool, Preschool at Home, Sensory, Slime

Gluten-Free Spiced Holiday Playdough: Pretend Cookie Shop

Gluten-Free Spiced Holiday Playdough: Pretend Cookie Shop

December 3, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

           I can’t believe I actually attempted another gluten-free playdough after our very wet pumpkin playdough experiment…but I did and actually succeeded! I wanted to set up a pretend gingerbread cookie making station for the kiddos today. We had some cold, wet weather and I was

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Filed Under: Christmas, Edible Sensory Play, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Recipes, Sensory, Thanksgiving, Toddlers Tagged With: christmas, cinnamon, cookies, playdough, Preschool Homeschool, pretend play, Sensory, sensory play, spiced

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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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