Classes

Vinings School of Art offers art lessons, classes, camps, and workshops for toddler, children, and teens. Offerings vary by age of student, but include:

Fine Arts Classes in a variety of art media, including painting, drawing, pottery, print-making with inks, mosaics, jewelry, decoupage, and paper mache.

Language Arts/Spanish classes are taught by native Spanish speaking instructors and are offered for children ages two through eight, segmented by age and experience, in an interactive and conversational format.

Beginning Drama/Acting for Kids classes are taught by a local acting professional, with courses divided by age for children ages three to 11.

Call or check the web site for all course schedules.

Summer Art Camps are available in weekly themed formats for boys and girls. There are art only camps, art and dance/fitness camps, and art and music camps. Sample themes include Art around the World, Sculpture, and Explorations in Painting. Fees include fresh fruit and drinks.

Birthday Parties are two hours long, held in a private art room with an instructor. The birthday child chooses the art project, and the package includes all art supplies, invitations, and decorations. Parents can bring in food, and have access to a kitchen. Parties are for 10 to 30 children.

The Play Patch is an indoor play space offering an innovative and educational program for children (with parent/caregiver) from three months to five years of age.

Parent and child classes include baby sign language and music and movement, including instrument introduction.

Birthday parties provide one hour of entertainment for children ages one to five. Party leaders get kids involved with musical movement, obstacle courses, songs, finger plays, rhythm chants, instruments, parachute fun, bubbles, scarves, and a bounce house. Invitations and clean up are included.

The Vinings Academy offers preschool and afterschool enrichment for children ages two to 16. Afterschool enrichment classes and workshop topics include Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Chess (by KidChess), Study Skills workshops, Yoga for kids, and musical instruction.

Parent/Child format classes available for preschoolers in a variety of subjects.

Purple Hippo is an art studio designed for kids ages two and up, offering classes, camps, open studio, and parties.

Open Studio creates a do-anything environment with a wide range of art materials to stimulate creative minds. Art teachers are on hand to help kids achieve their artistic vision, and a wide array of arts and crafts supplies are ready for little hands to dive in. For an additional fee, parents can purchase a ready-to-decorate craft from the gift shop and use any Open Studio materials to embellish it.

Classes include Mommy & Me, photography, ceramics, and painting, and appeal to a wide variety of interests and ages. Check the website for schedules.

Spring and Summer weeklong art camps are available, complete with creative themes and pizza Fridays.

Birthday Parties: For ages four and up, Purple Hippo hosts hip art-making birthday parties with several unique themes including Starry Night pajama parties,self-portrait parties, and beading bashes. Check with the studio for pricing and age-appropriate choices.

Note: Sketchy's has closed its Vinings studio and is in the process of relocating; classes and parties are currently not available.

To say that every detail has been thought of at Sketchy's Art Pad would be a real understatement. The husband- and wife-owned art studio for kids is designed to not only inspire children to explore the arts, it also successfully immerses kids in an art experience that begins when they walk in the door.

Inspiration can be found everywhere - from the check-in desk chandelier made from kids' animal illustrations to the repurposed materials metal sculpture. The playful atmosphere features original art in every facet of the space, including work tables, doorways, and yes, even the bathrooms!

Open Studio for all ages encompasses a wide range of art activities including painting, moveable sculpture, collage art, and more, all with staff assistance available. And speaking of staff, every employee has at least a BA in art, a great advantage when helping kids express imaginative ideas. Kids can work in one medium as long as they'd like, or move around and dabble. All artwork can go home that day, and if it's not dry, the owners can assist with some cardboard protection.

Classes are offered for ages three to five in Mommy and Me format, and for ages five to 13. Sessions guide children through a themed art experience, building on what is learned and created in each class. Themes include symbolism and signs, the illustrated story, the color of emotion, and rhythm and rhyme (starting with designing instruments, all the way to through to decorating and performing with them!)

Summer/Winter/School Break Creativity Camps are offered for ages five and up. (Campers are divided by age groups.) Weeklong themed sessions run from either 9am-1pm or 2pm-6pm. Students can enroll for the week, or by the day. Campers bring their own snack. Call for current tuition pricing per day and per week.

While kids are taking art lessons or Open Studio, parents/caregivers can relax - or get some work done - in the Beat N' Bean Cafe, a coffee bar and lounge, complete with Internet access and private telecommuting offices for parents whose kids are enrolled in classes. Kids at play can be viewed from nearly every angle and space in the studio, with the best executed parents' lounge concept we've seen. The cafe (modeled after a retro, beatnik-style coffee house) serves light snacks and fun coffee drinks.

Birthday parties at Sketchy's are anything but cookie cutter, and are arguably some of the most dynamic bashes in town. Throw any scenario at the owners - whatever inspires the birthday child - and they can develop a creative, engaging theme. Party packages include two hours on projects with two dedicated instructors, paper goods, juice, and set up and clean up. Add-ons include custom goody bags, ballooons, cakes, and cookies. A scrapbook of previous parties is available for viewing at the studio.

Note: The Playroom re-opened as Play in June 2008.

Devotees of the former Playroom, be comforted. the new version, now known as Play, was well worth the wait. The enormous, crisply decorated space and new features offer an experience that bests anything that came before, and we've not seen anyone walk through the doors who wasn't wowed.

For starters, it's important to note that the new location was the site of a fitness gym, and the layout works for this kid-friendly spot. Two gyms are placed side by side, containing mats and slides, a rock climbing wall, inflatables, and the supremely popular foam pit.

A parent lounge offers closed circuit TV views into the gym area, and plenty of cushy seating, kitchen amenities, and free wi-fi. An adjacent family eating area offers an easy place to eat a meal away from home, or tend to snack time. A moms' room - located in the huge bathroom/locker room - is a cozy spot for nursing and diaper changes.

Creative play areas offer the kids the chance to play veterinarian/pet groomer, shop manager, grocery store shopper, and hair stylist, as well as play with blocks or multi-sensory activities.

Short Stay Childcare is available to supplement day care or preschool programs, and drop-in playtimes take place seven days a week for parents to interact with kids in a fun environment. Playgroups are welcome here, too, and kids' nights out take place regularly. Instructors are all CPR and First Aid-trained, and, we must note this, are exceedingly courteous and pleasant.

Birthday Parties: Parties for kids age two and up include one hour of staff-supervised age-appropriate games and activities including obstacle course, relays, parachute play foam pit, trampoline, moonwalk bouncer, and more, followed by 30 minutes of party room time for cake and presents. Pricing includes all paper products, balloons, invitations, temporary tattoos, and a party favor for each child. Call for details about prices and packages, and check out what we thought of a party at Play.

Classes are offered in art, music, yoga, PlayFit, Zumba, and tumbling; visit the website to download a current calendar for child and adult offerings.

Kid Chess offers instruction, classes, after school programs, home school programs, chess clubs, tournaments and summer camps - all centered around - (you guessed it) chess!

Check the website for current schedules and pricing.

Imagine Tomorrow integrates sophisticated technology concepts, such as email and the internet, in an age-appropriate way. Classes allow students to advance at their own pace; when class ends, children have access to online software activities that correspond to the current lesson.