BEST OF THE BEST
PARENTING BEST BIRTHDAY
PARTY SPOT
When you’re ready to celebrate your littles, there’s no better place to turn than Ginger Bugs for a birthday party bash. At Ginger Bugs, the focus is on the birthday boy or girl and party hosts have three packages to choose from, with details curated to match your party theme. SkyZone is another top choice, featuring oversized trampolines and epic challenge courses for the whole family. Or, transport yourself to fairyland. The long-standing outdoor park dubbed Pixie Woods in Stockton features fun rides and interactive towns plus a vintage carousel.
BEST CHARTER/ PRIVATE SCHOOL Aspire Apex Academy ranked number one this year for best charter school in the county. The K-5 elementary prepares a diverse population of children for the next steps in their educational career, getting every student started on the right foot. For older students, Health Careers Academy focuses on high school students. Here, students looking to pursue a career in the field of medicine are offered curated curriculum to meet the unique needs of the industry. Stockton Collegiate International Schools serves under the mission of offering rigorous, relevant curriculum to prepare them for both post-secondary education and global citizenship.
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Best GYMNASTICS
Kids will flip for instruction at GymStars Gymnastics! Starting as young as 9 months old kids can get started in movement classes before taking their skills to new heights with high-flying gymnastics and competition teams for artistic performances. At Impact Sports Center everyone is welcome, including non-members during select drop-in times. Come for the fun, not the competition—at Impact it’s all about having a good time in the 9,000-squarefoot space. Step into the state-of-the-art facility at Champion Gymnastics where kids of all ages are invited to grow their gymnastics career. From beginners classes that cover the basics to competitive teams for the best of the best, there’s a little something for everyone at this Stockton gym.
AUGUST 2020 | SANJOAQUINMAGAZINE.COM
BEST CHILDREN’S BALLET
If you’re raising a prima ballerina, feed her desire to dance by enrolling in one of these SJ favorites. Stockton Ballet School not only has a line-up of instructional classes for dancers of all ages and skill levels, the ballet school also focuses on competitions to drive that competitive spirit. At Unique Visions Dance Company, aspiring dancers are under the care of Chelsea Hill, a talented dancer with a mixed background in both dance and childhood education. Kids of all ages can twirl to their heart’s content at Dance Connection. The Stockton studio starts ballet and lyrical dance classes at 4 years old and extends to young adults.
BEST
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
Fashionistas get ready! Sassy Pants Boutique is serving up
colorful styles for the youngest fashion stars in our life. At its Lincoln Center location, the store is focused on providing the latest trends to even the littlest tikes. If you’re looking to get those goods at a bargain—kids grow fast after all!—step into Once Upon a Child in Tracy, the secondhand store sells fashions in a variety of sizes, gently worn and sold by local families. Rounding out the list is Willow Tree Children’s Boutique, a Lodi shop offering high-end, feel good clothes kids can play in, plus a selection of luxe accessories.
BEST CHILDREN’S DANCE STUDIO
Ge ready to DANCE! The options are seemingly endless at Unique Visions Dance Studio, serving up fun classes in a variety of disciplines including ballet, hip hop, and jazz. If ballet is your child’s specialty, turn to Stockton Ballet School. At Elevate Dance Studio, kids can participate in multiple disciplines before finding their niche, including lyrical, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. All three studios invite kids to join their competition teams, too!