Art on the Park:  private & group art classes for children starting September. These will be small, inspired group or private art lessons with weekly featured techniques & themes.

For Ages 5+
1 hr group classes: Mondays or Wednesdays/3:30-4:30pm
2 hr group classes: Thursdays/3:30-5:30pm
Classes scheduled by age group
1-hour Private lessons offered Mon-Thurs.

Contact Torrey to schedule private classes at tskart@yahoo.com or (912) 354-5998

6 week 1 hr class @ $90 or 12 week 1 hr class @ $170
6 week 2 hr class @ $120 or 12 week 2 hr class @ $230
All Group Classes begin the week of September 20th

Private lessons @ $30/hr or $45/hr for siblings available to all ages under 18. minimum of 10 lessons

Studio Address:
1311 Washington Ave. (Daffin Park)

Instructor Torrey S. Kist, MFA
Torrey loves teaching children to tap into their natural creativity! Torrey received a BA in Visual Arts from Gettysburg College, and an MFA in Painting from SCAD. For the past 5 years, she worked for the Telfair Museum’s education department- directing, designing, (and often teaching) all of the youth & adult studio programming.
Torrey recently resigned from this position to pursue her two passions: teaching children and painting!
Art on the Park Studio
Situated directly on Daffin Park- the studio is a great place to spread out, get messy, and take play breaks if needed!
Small classes- 6 student limit- so register today!

Contact: tskart@yahoo.com or (912) 354-5998

The Sounds of Praise Children’s Choir - a Savannah choral experience built on the joy of singing - is now auditioning for the 2010-2011 season.

All those interested in singing are welcome to join the Community Choir. Choir Members will learn the fundamentals of sight-singing, healthy vocal production, and many wonderful songs as they develop and share their talents with the Savannah community.

The Community Choir is for Rising 2nd – 9th grade and held on Monday or Thursday: 6:15 – 7:30 PM
The Chamber Ensemble is for 10 – 15 year olds and held Monday or Thursday: 6:15 – 8 PM

Rehearsals begin Aug. 30 at Savannah Country Day School. Contact Vicki to schedule a placement audition at 912-920-6542 or email MakeAJoyfulNoiseMusicStudio@comcast.net. For information on tuition, uniforms and performance obligations, click here.

Find out more at a Choral Retreat 9 AM-Noon Sat. Aug. 28. Do you love to sing? Come join the Sounds of Praise children’s choir at the retreat as they introduce the fall repertoire, play music games and develop a sense of community through song! Cost: $24*
*Applied to tuition if you join for the year.

About the instructor: Vicki Mills holds a M.M. in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University and has over 20 years experience working with young voices. After eight years as the lower school music specialist at Savannah Country Day School, Vicki stepped away to develop her music studio, Make A Joyful Noise, which offers early childhood classes for children and their parents, group keyboard, and The Sounds of Praise choir.

Free tours of the tall-ship USCG Cutter Baroque Eagle at River Street pier, Savannah
The only active tall-sail ship in government service docks along River Street in Savannah this weekend. The ship will be open for public tours. Just west of the Hyatt hotel. Free tours! The CGC EAGLE is a 295-foot, 1824-ton, steel hull, three-masted sailing vessel.
3-5 PM Fri. July 30
9 AM-7 PM Sat. July 31
9 AM-7 PM Sun. Aug. 1

Sand Gnats vs. Augusta at Grayson Stadium at 1401 E. Victory Dr.
7 PM Fri. July 30
6 PM Sat. July 31
6 PM Sun. Aug. 1
The Gnats take on the Augusta Green Jackets. $7-10
.

Savannah Children’s Choir Summer End-of-Camp Concert
7 PM Fri. July 30
Savannah Children’s Choir Summer End-of-Camp Concert in the Jelks Auditorium at Savannah Country Day, 824 Stillwood Dr.
(912) 228-4758 or savannahchoir.org.

Reading Express at the Roundhouse Railroad Museum
Climb aboard the Reading Express and take a story time train ride. This annual event is a way of saying that reading is tons of fun!
10-11:30 AM Sat. July 31
Hear stories while chugging down the track, try a few reading and train-themed crafts and have a snack, too!
Cost is $10 per person, which includes the train ride, snack and activities.
Reservations are strongly suggested due to the size of the passenger car.
Be sure to arrive on time so that you do not miss any of the activities!
Call 912.651.6823 x203 or email childrensevents@chsgeorgia.org for more information.

Frugal and Fabulous Women, at Cambria Suites (Savannah/Hilton Head Airport Location) for a FABULOUS Women’s Night Out Expo!
Free women’s expo will be Fri. July 30 from 5:30-8:30 pm. Local vendors and businesses, FREE admission, FREE facials, FREE massages, FREE goodie bags for the first 50 ladies to arrive, something FREE at each business’ table, AND a raffle to benefit Hope for Savannah with some really great prizes.
HUGE Fashion Swap Party for Aug. 1 Get rid of the fashionable clothing and accessories you no longer wear for a chance to swap them for other items. Bring your $10 Swap entry fee and up to 30 of your brand-name, gently used clothing and accessory items to swap. For every 2 items you bring, you will receive 1 swap token. The swap will begin on Sun. Aug. 1 at 2 PM sharp! NO MONEY WILL BE EXCHANGED. Simply bring your tokens, and take home your “new” items.
Bring the items you want to swap to the Cambria Suites during our drop off hours:
-Fri. July 30 from 10am-2pm AND during our Women’s Night Out Expo from 5:30-8:30pm
-Sat. July 31 from 9am-2pm
-Sun. August 1 from 9am-12pm
For more information about the Ladies Weekend see the Frugal and Fabulous Facebook Fanpage, visit frugalandfabulouswomen.com or email info@frugalandfabulouswomen.com

Cannon Firings at the Fort
Throughout Spring & Summer 10 AM and 2 PM at Old Fort Jackson.
It’s that time a year again when cannon firings at Old Fort Jackson return to the old 10 and 2 time. Visit beautiful, National Historic Landmark Old Fort Jackson for programming and cannon firings at 10 AM and 2 PM throughout the spring and summer.
April 25-July 31 2010
912-232-3945

Diesel Train Rides at the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, 601 W. Harris St.
Tues.-Sat. at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 2 p.m.; Sun. at 1 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Call ahead to confirm times: (912) 651-6823

Hilton Head Is. area

Free Gregg Russell kids’ concerts held regularly during summer at Harbour Town, HHI

Gregg Russell Family Concerts at Harbour Town, Sea Pines Resort, HHI
8-9:30 PM Sunday-Friday during summer months
Under the Liberty Oak tree at Harbour Town, Hilton Head Is.  FREE.
Beloved children’s musician Gregg Russell has been performing at Harbour Town for 34 years. Read about his concerts here.

Ms. Amy’s School of Music in Savannah has it all when it comes to music lessons for children and early childhood music education for toddlers/preschoolers.

From piano and voice lessons to woodwinds, brass, beginner guitar, music discovery (ages 2-4), and theory - all ages and stages are welcome!

Increased confidence, reading and reasoning skills, and an expressive outlet are only some of the benefits to music education.

Offering one-on-one attention and investment in the student as a whole, Amy’s methods of teaching are successful and proven. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and has over 12 years of teaching experience. References are available upon request.

Call to set up a discounted trial lesson to see if what Ms. Amy’s School of Music’s offering is right for you. Call 912-659-0993 or email msamyschoolofmusic@gmail.com .

Preschooler parent-and-me classes include:
Music Discovery (Ages 2 - 4 years)
This is a private half hour lesson for both parent(s) and student to attend. It’s for the parent who wants their child to play piano. Little fingers are not that strong, so Amy has designed these lessons to give children the basis needed to begin piano at a younger age than normal.

Toddler Tunes (Ages 18 mos. - 3 years)
A joyful first music experience where children, siblings, and parents will share in a music making program of rhythms, active movement games and singing. A nurturing environment where an energetic connection is drawn between music and imagination. Meet others and learn some fascinating music activities you can re-create at home.

Music Makers (Ages 4 - 5 years)
An artistically conceived flow of songs, nursery rhymes, instrumental jam sessions and movement activities will keep your little music maker involved. This class is designed to support children’s development of competence in tonality and rhythm.

Class start dates depend on how many people register.

Get ready. The Coastal Kids Market, a favorite seasonal, upscale children’s consignment sale, is coming up again!

The Fall 2010 Sale dates are:
Thurs. Aug. 26 6 pm – 8 pm
Fri. Aug. 27 9 am – 5 pm
Sat. Aug. 28 9 am – 12 pm
**Select items will be half price on Saturday

The Coastal Kids Market’s seasonal sales at The Shops at Godley Station, Pooler Parkway Suite 202 are a huge hit with our readers and an amazing way to find designer kids’ clothes at bargin prices.

Coastal Kids Market is currently recruiting consignors, vendors for their sale as well as advertisers for their 200 goody bags. For info on how to be get involved and make money, click here.

Coastal Kids Market is teaming up with The Next Generation, a volunteer organization that Benefits the Backus Children’s Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center. Coastal Kids Market will donate a portion of proceeds to their organization and will also have the sale as a drop location for a character band-aid drive.

Win two preview tickets and a chance to enter the sale on Thursday night sale 15 minutes early by “liking” the Coastal Kids Market Facebook page by clicking here.

Watch the Coastal Market Facebook page on how to learn how to shop early and be part of the giveaway.

Look out for a SouthernMamas giveaway the week of Aug. 15, as well as a giveaway of two preview tickets on the Coastal Kids Market Facebook fanpage for current fans and those who become fans before the sale.

When doing your back-to-school shopping, be sure to check out the children’s shoes and accessories at Petite Feet.

Shopping at Savannah’s shoe store for children is a relaxed and enjoyable experience, thanks largely to the fact that it’s a child-friendly store with a comfortable atmosphere.  Puzzles, TV, children’s book and toys keep the tots busy while you shop.

Petite Feet’s knowledgeable personal service ensures that each child is fitted correctly. And you don’ t have to fight for parking spot. Petite Feet at 5521 Abercorn next to Fresh Market and across from Publix is in a super convenient location with easy in-and-out parking.

But best of all are the popular brands Petite Feet carries - all the ones you’ve been searching for, but have a tough time finding in our area: Lilly Kelly, Keen, Merrell, Michael Kors, Morgan & Milo, Naturino, Ralph Lauren, Robeez, Roxy, Sanita, See Kai Run, Simple, Sketchers, Sperry Top-Sider
Teva and many more.

Petite Feet is also teeming with hip children’s accessories such as hair bows, headbands, umbrellas, socks, back-packs and lunch bags.

Visit their website at www.petitefeetsavannah.com for more brands and information

Below is a guest post by Jane Madison, an early childhood education expert and pre-K teacher at Saint Peter the Apostle School on Wilmington Island. To read her past guest posts on preparing your child for preschool, click here:

About twenty years ago, when I was working with 3 year olds, we had a child in our class who always had to be first. First at art, first served at the snack table, the first turn in a game, and even the first one called to get his book bag. He had to be first. And, if he wasn’t first, he would whine,”What about me, what about me?!” louder and louder, until he got what he wanted. Needless to say, that behavior really got on our nerves! What this little guy needed to learn was self-control!

Self-control is the ability to control one’s emotions, desires and actions by one’s own will, and is one of the most important skills we can help our children develop.

There is a famous experiment, conducted by Dr. Walter Mischel at Stanford University that supports this statement.

In the 1960s, a group of four-year olds were given a marshmallow and promised another, if they could wait 15 minutes before eating the first one. Some children could wait and others could not. They were then divided into three groups. Those who ate the marshmallow right away were moved to group A, and those who waited before eating the marshmallow were moved to group B. (Those who were able to wait for some time, but didn’t last the full 15 minutes were not included in any more research.) The researchers then followed the progress of each child into adolescence, and demonstrated that those children with the ability to wait were better adjusted and more dependable (determined by surveys of their parents and teachers), and scored an average of 210 points higher on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). (Shoda, Mischel,&Peake1990)

The research also showed that the children who, when they were four-year-olds, could not wait, as teens were troubled, indecisive, and less confident and still were unable to delay gratification. To read the rest of this post in its entirety, click here.

As part of the City of Savannah’s Healthy Initiative, new restrictions of smoking are being proposed.

If the proposed Smoke Free Air Act passes, there are several places where smoking would be banned: within 20 feet of restaurants with outdoor seating and serving areas; within 20 feet of all public transportation platforms and shelters and playgrounds.

The proposed legislation would ban smoking 20 feet within the playground area. Designated smoking areas at work will also have to be at least 20 feet away from any entrances.

Voice your opinion at a town hall public meeting this Wed. July 28, 7-9 PM at the Savannah Civic Center where the City Council will take comments about this. Can’t make it to the meeting? Click here for a list of city council members and their contact info so you can make your voice heard. Learn more about the Smoke Free Savannah campaign by clicking here.

You’re invited to a CPR Class taught by the American Red Cross at Just for Baby & More, 10 AM-2 PM Sat. Aug. 7.

This class will cover CPR for infants and toddlers. Participants will receive certification cards the day of the class.

Cost: $35 per person or $60 per couple. Class fee will include manuals, supplies, certification card, and a light lunch

If you would like to join the class, please email casey@justforbaby.net to register. The first 20 registrants will receive a $15 Just for Baby & More Gift Card.

Just For Baby & More, 7701 Waters Ave., Savannah, 912-355-4455

Garden City has officially opened registration for Fall sports including children’s soccer, football and cheerleading.

To register, area residents can sign up at the Garden City Recreation Center office located at 160B Priscilla D. Thomas Way between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Registration fee is $25 per child (maximum of $50 per family), which is payable by check or money order.

Parents with children who would like to participate must submit the registration fee plus a copy of each child’s birth certificate. Equipment will be provided for football and cheerleading. For soccer, children will be responsible for bringing their own cleats and shin guards.

Football and cheerleading will begin on August 2 for ages 6-12. Co-ed soccer will begin on August 9 for ages 4-11. Children must meet the age requirements to register for sports teams. For more info, call 912.966.7788.