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Open Minds & Messy Hands

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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

One-Ingredient Sensory Sand!

One-Ingredient Sensory Sand!

June 27, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 4 Comments

It’s no secret I love sensory play. If you are new to this blog, welcome, I’m Katie, and I’m obsessed with hands-on, dirty, sensory play. Given the fact that babies love to put everything in their mouths, I’m always looking for ways to make our sensory play edible. Additionally, we are were a

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Filed Under: Babies, Edible Sensory Play, Learn Through Play, Sensory, Uncategorized Tagged With: babies, busy mom, kids, preschool, sensory play, stay at home mom, toddlers

5 Steps to Reconnecting with Your Kids After Yelling

5 Steps to Reconnecting with Your Kids After Yelling

February 15, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 4 Comments

I believe in gentle parenting. I do not believe in yelling at, or shaming my children. That said…nobody is perfect. I definitely lose my cool at times, and I yell. I would love to tell you that it never happens and that my parenting is right out of a child

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Filed Under: Gentle Parenting, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: gentle parenting, moms, positive parenting, stay at home mom, yelling

4 Simple Sensory Bags that Kids Will LOVE

4 Simple Sensory Bags that Kids Will LOVE

February 12, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

These baby-friendly sensory bags are baby, toddler & preschooler approved! 4 different ways to make simple sensory bags for all kids. Sensory bags are one of my favorite baby-friendly activities. They provide so much opportunity for exploration and can keep a baby occupied for quite a while! They are great

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Filed Under: Babies, Learn Through Play, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: activities, babies, education, kids activities, play, preschoolers, sensory play, stay at home mom, toddlers

25+ Simple Indoor Kids Activities for Rainy Day Fun

25+ Simple Indoor Kids Activities for Rainy Day Fun

January 26, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 9 Comments

I am all for getting outside in pretty much ANY weather….with that said, we have some REALLY cold days here on the East Coast and definitely need to find some fun (and easy) ways to stay busy indoors. These indoor kids activities use simple household materials and a bit of imagination

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Sensory, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddler Science, Toddlers Tagged With: activities, indoor activities, indoors, kids, learn through play, preschoolers, rainy day, stay at home mom, toddlers

Simple Home Organization Tips to Keep it Clutter-Free

Simple Home Organization Tips to Keep it Clutter-Free

January 25, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

If I had to create a pie chart of what my distribution of time as a stay-at-home mom feels like, it would look something like this: You see that large green part?? That would be what ‘feels’ like my time spent cleaning up and de-cluttering. I’m sure this distribution is exaggerated

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: cleaning, home, organization, stay at home mom

8 Ways to Play and Learn with Snow: Beyond Snowmen

8 Ways to Play and Learn with Snow: Beyond Snowmen

January 24, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 8 Comments

Growing up in California, we very rarely got snow. When we did, it was so short-lived that we would quickly build a snowman and briefly play before running back inside and warming up with a cup of hot chocolate next to the fire. Now, living on the east coast, our

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Filed Under: Babies, Elementary, Learn Through Play, Outdoors, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Toddler Science, Toddlers, Uncategorized, Winter Tagged With: fun, kids activities, learn, learn with snow, play, snow, snow day, stay at home mom

Life With a 4 Year Old: When You Never Know What They Will Say Next…

Life With a 4 Year Old: When You Never Know What They Will Say Next…

December 30, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 7 Comments

One of my favorite things to post to my personal Facebook page is mini conversations with my 4 year old. I find them to be generally hilarious and highly entertaining, now clearly I’m biased, but I hope you enjoy them nonetheless. My son turned 4 in 2015, and with that came

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Filed Under: Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: Entertainment, funny, kids, preschooler, quotes, stay at home mom

Christmas Printable Packet

Christmas Printable Packet

December 12, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly newsletter and receive all of our Christmas Printables in one easy to print packet! As a subscriber, you will receive some of our fun kids activities delivered straight to your inbox, and don’t worry, I promise not to flood your account with spam. As

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Filed Under: Christmas, Holidays, Uncategorized Tagged With: christmas, optin, printable, stay at home mom

Homemade Puff Paint from Pantry Items 

Homemade Puff Paint from Pantry Items 

December 10, 2015 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

Christmas is quickly approaching which means time off from school and spent at home with the family…this can leave a lot of moms with that overwhelming of feeling of “how do I keep them busy and entertained??”, especially once Christmas is over, and you have those few days before the New

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Recipes, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized Tagged With: boredom buster, kids art, paint, stay at home mom

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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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