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Open Minds & Messy Hands

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Felt Turkey Busy Bag with Free Printable Template

Felt Turkey Busy Bag with Free Printable Template

November 5, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

This felt turkey busy bag is easy to make, and fun for play and learning with many ages! Keep this with you whenever you need to keep the kids busy!   One of our favorite busy bag materials is felt! I love to make mini felt boards that the kids

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Fall, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Printables, Thanksgiving, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers Tagged With: busy bag, felt, felt board, gratitude, preschool, thanksgiving, toddler, turkey

Must-Have Art Supplies for Toddlers

Must-Have Art Supplies for Toddlers

September 21, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Kids love to create. Art is a wonderful avenue for early self-expression, imagination and creativity. You might think that 1 and 2 year olds can’t engage in art, it might be messy or dangerous if ingested. But, allowing even our littlest learners the opportunity to engage in art can be wonderful

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Learn Through Play, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: art supplies, toddler

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

34 Fine Motor Activities to Improve Pincer Grasp

34 Fine Motor Activities to Improve Pincer Grasp

August 11, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

Did you know that you can improve pincer grasp without a pencil? It’s true. There are plenty of fine motor activities that build the muscles in small fingers to help with future handwriting skills. Here are quite a few awesome ones to give little fingers a workout! Fine Motor Activities for

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool, Sensory, Uncategorized Tagged With: fine motor, fun, Homeschool, kids activities, moms, play, preschool, toddler

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

Marbled Milk Paper: Science + Art for Kids

Marbled Milk Paper: Science + Art for Kids

May 21, 2014 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

This is one of the most fun science experiments for toddlers and preschoolers! Combining science and art, not only is the process really awesome, but you can use the finished product to make some marbled milk prints! It’s so simple, all you need is milk, food coloring, Q-tips and dish

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Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschool Science, science, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddler Science, Uncategorized Tagged With: art, kids, kids activities, moms, preschool, Preschool Homeschool, science, toddler

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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