2024 BEST CHOICE AWARDS
There are other awards out there, but none are like ours!
Kid’s Directory asked Central Arkansas who they think is the BEST CHOICE for their kids and families. Each category allowed voters the option to cast their vote for a favorite for North, South or Both sides of the Arkansas river. This year we had hundreds of entries who voted from Pulaski, Saline, Faulkner, and Lonoke counties and we are excited to share with you the final winners. Find out who stands out from the rest and is considered the BEST CHOICE in 2024!
Congratulation Winners!
ART CLASSES
NORTH: Matthews Studios
SOUTH: The Painted Pig
DANCE STUDIO
NORTH: JAX at Huff N’ Puff
SOUTH: Dancers’ Corner
ALL-STAR CHEERLEADING
NORTH: Cheer Force Academy
SOUTH: Empire Kids
GYMNASTICS
NORTH: JAX at Huff N’ Puff
SOUTH: MGC Kids
NINJA TRAINING GYM
NORTH: JAX at Huff N’ Puff
SOUTH: Empire Kids
MARTIAL ARTS
NORTH: Grandmaster Han’s Martial Arts
SOUTH: Unity Marial Arts
MUSIC LESSONS
NORTH: Matthews Studios
SOUTH: Little Rock Music Academy
SWIM LESSONS
NORTH: Safety Before Skill Swim School
SOUTH: Bishop Park Aquatics Center
SUMMER DAY CAMP
NORTH: JAX at Huff N’ Puff
SOUTH: 4-H, Arkansas Outdoor School
SUMMER OVERNIGHT CAMP
NORTH: 4-H, Arkansas Outdoor School
SOUTH: Brookhill Ranch Camp
YOUTH BASEBALL PROGRAM
NORTH: Conway Parks & Recreation
SOUTH: Junior Deputy
YOUTH BASKETBALL PROGRAM
NORTH: IGN Academy
SOUTH: Immanual Baptist Church
YOUTH FOOTBALL PROGRAM
NORTH: Elite Sports Vision & Performance
SOUTH: Benton Youth Sports
YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAM
NORTH: Elite Sports Vision & Performance
SOUTH: Arkansas United Soccer
YOUTH TENNIS PROGRAM
NORTH: Conway Tennis Center
SOUTH: LR Racquetball Club
YOUTH SOFTBALL PROGRAM
NORTH: Maumelle
SOUTH: Benton Youth Sports
BIRTHDAY PARTY (0-6 YEARS)
NORTH: JAX at Huff N’ Puff
SOUTH: Fancyful Parties
BIRTHDAY PARTY (7 YEARS & UP)
NORTH: JAX at Huff N’ Puff
SOUTH: Fancyful Parties
MUSEUM FOR FAMILIES
NORTH: Museum of Discovery
SOUTH: Museum of Discovery
INDOOR PLAY PLACE
NORTH: Share the Love Kids Club
SOUTH: The Wonder Place
OUTDOOR PLAY PLACE
NORTH: Two Rivers
SOUTH: Two Rivers
PUMPKIN PATCH
NORTH: Motley’s Pumpkin Patch
SOUTH: Motley’s Pumpkin Patch
AFTER SCHOOL CARE
NORTH: JAX at Huff N’ Puff
SOUTH: Our Club at Our House
DAYCARE, PRESCHOOL, OR MDO
NORTH: Lakewood Methodist Church
SOUTH: Trinity Methodist Church
PARENTS NIGHT OUT
NORTH: JAX at Huff N’ Puff
SOUTH: The Little Gym
FIELD TRIP DESTINATION
NORTH: Cockrill’s Critters
SOUTH: 4-H, Arkansas Outdoor School
PRIVATE & PAROCHIAL ELEMENTARY
NORTH: Central Arkansas Christian
SOUTH: Little Rock Christian
TUTORING CENTER
NORTH: Lil Readers
SOUTH: 4-H, SEEK
BAKERY
NORTH: Humble Crumb
SOUTH: Community Bakery
FAMILY RESTAURANT
NORTH: Tacos 4 Life
SOUTH: Purple Cow
PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL MIDDLE
NORTH: Central Arkansas Christian
SOUTH: Arkansas Christian Academy
PUBLIC OR CHARTER ELEMENTARY
NORTH: Crestwood
SOUTH: ESTEM Downtown
PUBLIC OR CHARTER MIDDLE
NORTH: Crestwood
SOUTH: Benton Middle
SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL/PRE-K
NORTH: Pediatrics’ Plus
SOUTH: Access Schools
DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT
NORTH: Ristorante Capeo
SOUTH: Allsopp & Chapple
ADULT FITNESS & TRAINING
NORTH: Orange Theory
SOUTH: Orange Theory
FAMILY DENTIST
NORTH: Brian Skinner, DDS
SOUTH: ASAP Smile Center
PEDIATRIC
/ KIDS DENTIST
NORTH: Groovy Smiles
SOUTH: Central Arkansas Ped DDS
ORTHODONTIST
NORTH: Kita Orthodontist
SOUTH: Daniel & Jones Orthodontics
OBGYN (DOCTOR)
NORTH: Dr. Cindy Hubach, Central Clinic For Women
SOUTH: Dr. Courtney Sick, Conway Regional
OBGYN CLINIC
NORTH: Baptist Health, Springhill
SOUTH: Central Clinic for Women
PEDIATRICIAN (DOCTOR)
NORTH: Dr Josh Lyon, All For Kids
SOUTH: Dr Josh Lyon, All For Kids
PEDIATRIC CLINIC
NORTH: All for Kids
SOUTH: All for Kids
PEDIATRIC THERAPY CLINIC
NORTH: Hippos and Fish
SOUTH: Pediatrics’ Plus
URGENT CARE (WALK-IN) CLINIC
NORTH: Baptist Health Urgent Care
SOUTH: Baptist Health Urgent Care
BABY & CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
NORTH: Simply Sweet Kids
SOUTH: The Toggery
CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT
NORTH: Duck Duck Goose
SOUTH: Duck Duck Goose
LIFE INSURANCE
NORTH: Shelter
SOUTH: Shelter
CAR INSURANCE
NORTH: Auto-Owners
SOUTH: Auto-Owners
BANK OR CREDIT UNION
NORTH: Arvest
SOUTH: Regions
CAR DEALERSHIP
NORTH: Caldwell
SOUTH: Everett
VETERINARY CLINIC
NORTH: Animal Care Veterinary Center
SOUTH: Baeyans Hauk Vet Hospital
The lifesaving skill every family needs to know this February
By P.E. Teacher Richard Denney
Westside Elementary School, Searcy School district
Being prepared for emergencies is a fundamental skill that most learn early in life. If you were to ask any child or adult what they would do in case of an emergency, it is likely their response would be to call 9-1-1. However, when a person suddenly collapses from cardiac arrest, calling 9-1-1 may not be enough to save their life. Simply educating our families to take an additional step could transition ourselves and others from bystanders to lifesavers.
Each year, more than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrests outside of a hospital, including 23,000 children. With most of these incidences occurring at home, CPR is a critical skill that kids as young as 9 years old can learn.
This February, in celebration of American Heart Month and the American Heart Association’s 100th birthday, the American Heart Association is urging every family in the U.S. to join the Nation of Lifesavers™ by learning CPR. Joining the Nation of Lifesavers, an American Heart Association initiative focused on doubling the survival rate of cardiac arrest by 2030 is easier than ever with many learning options available to families. In Searcy, families can take an online CPR course, learn and practice Hands-Only CPR with a CPR Anytime® Training Kit, watching a 60-second video to learn Hands-Only CPR or find a Heartsaver™ certification course near them.
In addition to these learning options, the American Heart Association provides students from elementary school through high school the opportunity to learn Hands-Only CPR through the association’s Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs. These in-school service-learning based fundraising programs teach students, families and staff valuable life skills, including how to make smart food choices, the importance of avoiding vaping/tobacco and the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR. To learn more and to get your child’s school involved, visit www.heart.org/schools.
