• About
  • Shop
  • Work with Me
    • Guest Post on Views!
    • Policies and Disclosure
    • Sponsored Work
  • Tri-State Family Fun
  • The Mommy View
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Views From a Step Stool

Open Minds & Messy Hands

  • Home
  • Learn Through Play
    • Fine Motor Activities
    • Arts & Crafts
      • Toddler Arts & Crafts
      • Preschool Arts& Crafts
    • Sensory
      • Ultimate Collection of Sensory Bins for Kids
      • Toddler Sensory Play
      • Preschool/Early Elementary Sensory Play
      • Mess-Free Sensory Play
    • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
      • Indoor and Outdoor STEM Challenges for Kids
    • Babies
      • 60+ Awesome Activities for 1 Year Olds! {Tested and Loved}
    • Toddlers
      • Activities for 2 Year Olds
    • Preschoolers
      • Activities for 3 Year Olds
      • 65+ Fun Activities for 4 Year Olds
    • Elementary
      • 55+ Activities for 5 Year Olds
    • Want to Teach Your Kids Through Play?
  • Holidays
    • Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids
      • Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids
      • Free Printable Valentines Cards
    • St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids
    • Easter Activities for Kids
    • Memorial Day/4th of July
    • Halloween Activities for Kids
      • Monster Activities for Kids
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Thanksgiving Crafts,Sensory Play and Printables for Toddlers and Up
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Christmas
      • 30+ Christmas Activities for 1 and 2 Year Olds
      • Christmas Printables for Kids
      • Ornament Crafts for Kids
    • New Years
  • Seasons
    • Spring Activities for Kids
      • March Activities for Kids
      • St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids
      • Easter Activities for Kids
    • Summer Activities for Kids
      • 4th of July Activities for Kids
    • Tons of Fall Kids Activities for All Ages
      • Fall Printables for Kids
      • Apple Themed Kids Activities
      • Apple Crafts for Kids
      • Pumpkin Activities for Kids: Crafts, Science and Sensory Play
    • Winter
      • January Activities for Toddlers
      • February Activities for Toddlers
      • Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids
  • Sensory Bins
  • Printables
    • Seasonal Printables for Kids
      • Spring Printables for Kids
      • Summer Printables for Kids
      • Fall Printables for Kids
      • Winter Printables for Kids
    • Holiday Printables for Kids
      • Valentine’s Day Printables for Kids
        • Free Printable Valentines Cards
      • St. Patrick’s Day Printables for Kids
      • Easter Printables for Kids
      • 4th of July Printables for Kids
      • Free Halloween Printables for Kids: Games and More
      • Thanksgiving Printables for Kids
      • Christmas Printables for Kids
    • Free Printable Board Games for Kids
      • Printable Camping Games for Kids
    • Printable Bookmarks for Kids
    • Free Printable Playdough Mats for Kids
    • Book Lists
    • Printable Lego Challenges for Kids
  • Exclusive Content for Subscribers
Candy Corn Sensory Bin

Candy Corn Sensory Bin

October 24, 2024 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

This sensory bin for kids uses candy corn and rice as a base for this fun fall sensory play. Children will love the bright colors, and while it might be discouraged, it’s technically edible for children who might sneak handfuls of their sensory play. This candy corn sensory bin encourages

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Halloween, Sensory Tagged With: activities, Halloween, kids activities, sensory play, toddlers

Emotions Sensory Bag

Emotions Sensory Bag

October 18, 2024 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Using sensory bags with children encourages fine motor skills and can double as a calming tool. This emotions sensory bag doubles as a calming tool and also helps children learn to label and recognize emotions.         Emotions Sensory Bag This emotions sensory bag is a great hands-on way for

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Mess-Free Sensory Play, Sensory Tagged With: activities, kids activities, learn through play, Sensory, sensory play, toddlers

Easter Sensory Bin with Colored Rice

Easter Sensory Bin with Colored Rice

February 22, 2019 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

This Easter sensory bin is made with colored rice, plastic eggs, little chicks and fine motor tools. Bright and colorful, this rice bin is fun for all ages.   One of our favorite ways to celebrate the holidays is by making a themed sensory bin! This Easter sensory bin is

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Easter, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers Tagged With: Easter, moms, play, play based learning, preschool, sensory bin, toddlers

Perfect Valentine, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter Activities for 1 Year Olds

Perfect Valentine, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter Activities for 1 Year Olds

February 10, 2018 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Activities for 1 and 2 year olds that celebrate Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter. Easter activities for 1 year olds that engage and are fun!    I know technically Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day are in Winter, but I like to think of them as Spring holidays.

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Easter, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Valentine's Day Tagged With: 1 year olds, 2 year olds, Easter, st patricks, toddlers, valentines

Decorate a Christmas Tree Sensory Bag for Babies

Decorate a Christmas Tree Sensory Bag for Babies

October 30, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Engaging the senses is one of the best ways for kids to learn. Holidays are a time of family fun, and crafting, playing and creating are all awesome ways to learn about and celebrate the holidays. But, it can be difficult to find sensory activities for babies and toddlers, as

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Christmas, Holidays, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Sensory Tagged With: activities for babies, christmas, christmas tree, sensory bag, toddlers

20+ Apple Crafts for Kids

20+ Apple Crafts for Kids

September 5, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Fall is all about apples and pumpkins around here! We love to craft, explore and play with apples. After a day of apple picking at a local farm (a family tradition) we love to follow up the hands-on experience with further apple fun. This list of apple crafts for kids is

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Fall, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Uncategorized Tagged With: apple crafts, apples, fall crafts, kids crafts, preschool, toddlers

Erupting Kids Car Wash: Simple Science and Play

Erupting Kids Car Wash: Simple Science and Play

June 20, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 1 Comment

When I think back to childhood, many of my fondest memories are outside building, creating and messing with simple science. My go-to boredom buster was to make a volcano out of mud, add baking soda and vinegar to the top and watch the eruption. It never got old. This reaction combined

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Preschool Science, Preschoolers, science, Toddler Science, Toddlers Tagged With: car wash, preschoolers, pretend play, simple science, toddlers

Spring-Themed Printable Games for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Spring-Themed Printable Games for Toddlers and Preschoolers

May 25, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

“Mommy play a game with me!’ I hear this phrase often from my 2 and 3 year olds. They love the practice in turn-taking and sharing, and they love to win. These Spring-themed printable games are great for vocabulary building and social skill practice!   Spring-Themed Printable Games To download

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers Tagged With: Busy Bags, Homeschool, preschoolers, printable games, toddlers

3 Rainbow Busy Bags Made from Dollar Tree Foam Sheets

3 Rainbow Busy Bags Made from Dollar Tree Foam Sheets

March 7, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions and ideas expressed are my own. I received the product mentioned in this post for free from Dollar Tree. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Thank you! When it

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, St. Patrick's Day, Toddlers Tagged With: Busy Bags, Dollar Tree, foam sheets, Homeschool, preschool, rainbow, toddlers

Owl Puzzle Cards for a St. Patrick’s Day Busy Bag

Owl Puzzle Cards for a St. Patrick’s Day Busy Bag

February 27, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Busy bags are excellent for quiet time, travel, waiting rooms and more! My number one piece of advice when using busy bags is to keep a stash and rotate them often. This will best ensure that they will in fact keep your littles busy! Want to build up a quick

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Holidays Tagged With: busy bag, preschoolers, puzzle, st patricks day, toddlers

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 5
  • Next Page »

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!

Search the Site

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

Copyright © 2025 · Hello Sweets by Hello You Designs

Copyright © 2025 · Hello Sweets Theme On Genesis Framework