Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in austin, TX

Twice the Fun!

by Nicole Basham

March 17, 2009

Wow, talk about a 180 in terms of the weather, huh? Hope you are enjoying your Spring Break so far! For ideas of things to do around town this week, you can check my Monday post.

Tuesday is List Day here at Savvy Source, and today I'm bringing you some ideas for "two-fers": two places relatively closeby you can visit in the course of a morning or afternoon.  Read more...

Austin's Best Family-Friendly Live Music Venues

by Nicole Basham

February 22, 2009

South by Southwest is just around the corner.  What better way to show your preschooler what makes Austin special than by going together?  In the coming weeks, free day shows will be announced.  Although times haven't been confirmed, the schedule for Auditorium Shores on Saturday, March 21 features several kids' favorites, like the Biscuit Brothers and Joe McDermott.

If you haven't taken your preschooler to see live music before, or want a "practice run" before braving the Festival, here are some places you should head first:
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Do, Re, Mi: Exploring Links Between Music and Math

by Nicole Basham

February 16, 2009

Music.  It is what we use to soothe a baby, teach a growing child his ABCs, and a creative outlet to express ourselves as kids and adults.

This month's theme here at Savvy Source is early math skills.  I have always heard that children who were exposed to music fared better in math later on, so I thought I would take this opportunity to speak to an expert in the field of music education for this month's guest post.

Petra Soltis is the Early Childhood Coordinator at the Austin Lyric Opera's Armstrong School of Music,

99 Things To Do With Your Little One in Austin Before Kindergarten

by Nicole Basham

January 27, 2009

As you may be noticing, Tuesday is List Day here at Savvy Source.  In keeping with the month's theme of Resolutions and Reflections, here are 99 Things To Do with Your Preschooler before Kindergarten (in no particular order): Hike to the top of Enchanted Rock Pick strawberries at Sweet Berry Farm Go to a UT game (try soccer, basketball, or baseball if you don't want to shell out the dough  Read more...

What Matters & What Doesn't to My Little Austinite

by Jonathon Morgan

January 06, 2009

This month's theme at Savvy Source is Resolutions and Reflections, and Tuesday is List Day. Today's list is about what really matters to preschoolers - and what doesn't. For a local spin, I've chosen to reflect on the Austin sights that my preschooler really digs (sometimes literally!) and what I've been surprised he hasn't taken to...at least not yet. Top 5 Austin Institutions My  Read more...

Skating and Singing and Lights...Oh My!

by Jonathon Morgan

December 04, 2008

My email is being flooded with all kinds of fun things to do with the little ones, so I thought I'd quickly list some of the events we're considering on our social calendar for the coming weekend. Have a wonderful weekend! Gingerbread House Workshops at the Austin Children's Museum downtown $28/$33 Member/Non-Member per gingerbread house (3 people per house; includes  Read more...

Summer music playlist

by Nicole Basham

July 15, 2008

Ah, summer. Nice weather, lazy afternoons, and car trips from hell. It's the time of year when families traditionally trek across the country to spend time with friends, grandparents, and annoying Uncle Roy who's always trying to get you to buy into his real estate scheme. But never fear -- the drive can be tolerable, or even downright pleasant, with a few tunes to quiet the frustrated  Read more...

Wednesdays at the park with the austin symphony

by Nicole Basham

July 07, 2008

At first glance, Austin doesn't really seem like a symphony kind of town. The cowboy-hippie charm of the city isn't what you'd normally couple with classical fare -- but the people of Austin have a surprising affection for traditional music. Our symphony orchestra has been one of the cultural foundations of Central Texas for almost a century, performing for a full 98 seasons -- all of which now  Read more...

Review: seussical the musical

by Nicole Basham

July 02, 2008

Fortunately for parents, the majority of children's entertainment is sophisticated enough that adults can tolerate -- or even enjoy -- the first five or six hundred times your kid wants to sit through it. Barring the irritating pauses in Dora the Explorer or Strawberry Shortcake's uncomfortably squeaky voice, the creators of cartoons, picture books, and music for youth are working hard to  Read more...

Get out of the house this weekend!

by Nicole Basham

June 27, 2008

It's really, really hot -- so I can understand the temptation to stay cooped-up inside with the air conditioning. But chances are, by the end of Saturday morning cartoons the cabin fever will set in and you'll be looking for ways to escape the madness. Fortunately there's plenty going on this weekend -- something, I think, for every disposition. Here's a few of the highlights: The Watermelon  Read more...

Mozart, Moby or Miles

by Nicole Basham

May 30, 2008

Austin is the live music capital of the world -- and not just for grown-ups. There's plenty of ways you can get your preschooler into the music scene, and eventually employ the kind of snobby discerning taste cultivated by the local hipster population. 1. Mr Johnny : Remember Rafi? This guy is the Austin equivalent. He and his wife routinely play all over town -- from restaurants, to  Read more...