Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Nashville, TN

Where To Buy Designer Kids Clothes For Pennies On The Dollar

by Meredith Pelham

When it comes to dressing my preschoolers, I'm an absolute snob. The daughter wears smocked dresses like playclothes; the son sports the preppiest duds this side of Bermuda. My secret? 95% of their wardrobes are secondhand. And why not, when you can buy Kitestrings for less than K-mart? Recycling clothing eliminates waste and teaches kids that expensive is not necessarily ... Read more >

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Best Places To See Fish: Nashville

by Meredith Pelham

There's a reason so many pediatrician's offices have fish tanks: fish are fascinating to preschoolers! Here are the best places to watch them glide through the water in Nashville: 1. Easiest Place To See Fish: The Nashville Zoo's Unseen New World features a hallway of full-size tanks. I love that they start at the floor and go up, affording even the smallest preschooler a fish-eye ... Read more >

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Kid-Friendly Coffee House: Ugly Mugs, East Nashville

by Meredith Pelham

Saturday, a friend and I checked out East Nashville's newest coffee house, Ugly Mugs on Eastland. We had already heard rumors that this hip, steel-and-gray development was also kid-friendly. "They" were right. In one hour, I counted 2 nursing moms, 3 expecting moms, and a handful of toddlers enjoying the sunny kids' area. Ugly Mugs' menu is standard coffee house fare, with a small ... Read more >

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Nashville's Shakespeare In The Park

by Meredith Pelham

It's that time of year! The Nashville Shakespeare Festival kicked off the 2008 production of Coriolanus last night at Centennial Park. Can you really take a preschooler to Shakespeare? I think so. Here's why: The magic of outdoor theatre is so exciting to kids. It's at night--and who doesn't like to see the stars, if not on stage? It's free, so you haven't lost any admission if ... Read more >

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Nashville: Where The Moms Are

by Meredith Pelham

It's tough making new friends--right, Mom? We've moved around the city 5 times in 10 years, and with each move I've struggled to find the right group of moms for spur-of-the-moment, lets-walk-around-the-block playdates. Here are the best spots in Nashville where you can reliably meet other moms and kids: 1. Library Story Time: The main library downtown is packed with moms who care about ... Read more >

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Nashville's Healthiest Kid-Friendly Restaurant: Calypso Cafe

by Meredith Pelham

It's hot, and we're miles from the beach. Where can we go that feels like summer? Calypso Cafe serves up island-style food--with a setting and menu that's eminently kid-friendly. Even better: Calypso's $3.49 kids meal is the best nutritional buy for the buck. My kids, who prize Wendy's chicken nuggets above all else, dive into Calypso's juicy roast chicken. It's served with 2 ... Read more >

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Nashville's Best Swim Lessons for Preschoolers

by Meredith Pelham

I knew it would take another adult to teach my kids to swim. I could hardly get my 3-year-old to detach from my neck, let alone put his face in the water! We started group swim lessons at the YMCA. It took nearly an entire 2-week session to get comfortable in the big indoor pool, but after that, all went...swimmingly. I've been asking all my mom friends for their swim lesson experiences in ... Read more >

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Little Boats In Nashville: Back Yard & Beyond

by Meredith Pelham

Today the Being Savvy editors have tons of ideas for backyard water play--from ice cube painting to water bowling. We're all over their tiny ships from acorn shells. My kids have been boat-crazy since we listened to Julie Harris' crisp narration of Stuart Little last week. (The audio version is available at the Nashville Public Library.) Here are some ideas for bringing the floating ... Read more >

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A Preschool Guide To The Nashville Zoo

by Meredith Pelham

Nashville preschoolers go wild about the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. It's the best place to see those proverbial lions and tigers--and also local critters like chipmunks and cardinals. The Nashville Zoo has incorporated the exotic into the native landscape, with stunning results. It feels almost natural to see an African savanna nestled next to the historic farm's horses and hen ... Read more >

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East Nashville Tomato Art Fest

by Meredith Pelham

Indie, offbeat, local, homegrown--it's time for the 2008 Tomato Art Fest! Families all over town will be heading to the east side for Nashville's most fun, funky festival. Conserve your energy by studying the complete schedule of events here. It's all fun, but here are some of the highlights for the preschool set: Sidewalk chalk art contest Giant ice cream sundae extravaganza @ Pied ... Read more >

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