• 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
      • 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
      • Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids
      • February Activities for Toddlers
  • 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
      • Halloween Printables for Kids
      • 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
Simple Bird Seed Bear Craft for Kids with Free Printable Template

Simple Bird Seed Bear Craft for Kids with Free Printable Template

January 9, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone 7 Comments

When I was little I had a piece of artwork hanging on my door. It was a bear outline filled in with bird seed. We did a lot of arts and crafts so I must have thought this was was especially cool because it stayed proudly taped to my door

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: bears, kids books, kids crafts, preschool, toddlers

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

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: preschool, Sensory, sight words, snowballs, snowman, snowy day, sticky table, toddlers, winter

Learning Colors by Painting with Trains

Learning Colors by Painting with Trains

December 12, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

Kids love trains. Engaging the senses while learning and providing hands-on experiences allow kids the opportunity to make connections with the materials in front of them. After reading the Polar Express this week for the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids, we are doing a really fun color learning activity

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Learn Through Play, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Preschoolers, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Colors, early education, Homeschool, kids art, learning, preschool, toddlers

Gift Wrapping Pretend Play and Fine Motor Practice with Recyclables

Gift Wrapping Pretend Play and Fine Motor Practice with Recyclables

November 26, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Gift wrapping pretend play is such a fun activity to do with kids around the holidays, and perfect for building fine motor skills. Cutting, measuring, taping and decorating all incorporate math, art, and motor practice through PLAY. We have been collecting recyclables such as cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls and milk

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Christmas, Elementary, Holidays, Learn Through Play, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: christmas, gift wrap, invitation to create, preschool, pretend play, toddlers

15 Activity Packs for Turkey Day Crafting with Kids

15 Activity Packs for Turkey Day Crafting with Kids

November 9, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving is  wonderful time to celebrate with family. I immediately think of doing some Turkey Day crafting with my kids making table decorations or little gifts for family and teachers. Crafting with kids is such a fun way to get excited for a holiday, and a perfect time to open up a

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Holidays, Thanksgiving, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: Arts and Crafts, crafts, elementary, preschoolers, thanksgiving, toddlers, turkey, turkey day

Puffy Paint Night Sky: A Glow in the Dark Toddler Art Activity

Puffy Paint Night Sky: A Glow in the Dark Toddler Art Activity

October 24, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 3 Comments

This week as part of the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids, we are reading Time for Bed by Mem Fox. This book is about saying goodnight to all of the animals in the book. It is beautifully illustrated and all of my kids love checking out the different backgrounds

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Preschool Arts& Crafts, Toddler Arts & Crafts Tagged With: Arts and Crafts, book club, Homeschool, kids books, night sky, preschool, sleep, toddlers

Quiet Toys for Babies: A Parent-Approved Gift Guide

Quiet Toys for Babies: A Parent-Approved Gift Guide

October 13, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 2 Comments

If you walk down a toy aisle for babies, the sight and sounds can be quite overwhelming. Many of the toys require more batteries than all of the remotes in your house combined. While babies love a toy that talks or sings to them while they play, there is great

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Christmas, Gift Guides, Holidays, Parenting, Sponsored Work, Uncategorized Tagged With: babies, christmas, gift guide, gift guides, gifts, kids, kids activities, moms, Preschool Homeschool, toddlers

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

[ Read More ]

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

60+ Awesome Activities for 1 Year Olds! {Tested and Loved}

60+ Awesome Activities for 1 Year Olds! {Tested and Loved}

May 11, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 7 Comments

Looking for activities for 1 year olds? You can find TONS of activities for toddlers and preschoolers to do from fun sensory play to fantastic busy bags. The only problem is that a lot of this awesomeness is not geared for one year olds.   Toddlers and ‘1 year olds’

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Arts & Crafts, Babies, Edible Sensory Play, Learn Through Play, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Sensory, Toddler Arts & Crafts, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: 1 year old, activities for 1 Year Olds, Arts and Crafts, fine motor, gross motor, Homeschool, kids, kids activities, moms, parenting, sensory play, toddlers

Nebula Calm Down Jar: Sensory & Science 

Nebula Calm Down Jar: Sensory & Science 

April 18, 2016 By Katie Chiavarone 7 Comments

This nebula calm down jar is a perfect mix of calming sensory play and science, all wrapped up into a fun project! With only a few ingredients, you will have captured a little but of outer space in a jar, with a mesmerizing calming effect. We made this calm down

[ Read More ]

Filed Under: Elementary, Learn Through Play, Mess-Free Sensory Play, Parenting, Preschoolers, Sensory, Toddlers, Uncategorized Tagged With: calm down jar, emotions, Homeschool, moms, preschoolers, psychology, sensory play, spirited kids, toddlers

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 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

  • 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

Copyright © 2023 · Hello Sweets by Hello You Designs

Copyright © 2023 · Hello Sweets On Genesis Framework