Best After-School Program
Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County (Club J)
After-school hours are prime time for your child to get some exercise and burn off some steam after a long day behind a desk. Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County offers a plethora of activities to entertain every child including aquatics, sports and rec, pickleball, Maccabi Games and more. Club J also includes transportation, a snack and two enrichment classes per day. However, this program is not offered on Fridays due to Shabbat.
jccoc.org/pages/club-j | Irvine
Best Competitive Gymnastics Class
Scats Gymnastics
Is there a better way to immerse your child in gymnastics than to enroll them in a gymnastics studio that trained Olympic gymnast, Sam Mikulak? Scats Olympics is a renowned gymnastics center based in Huntington Beach that offers an array of classes including everything from parent-and-me classes for toddlers all the way up to competitive classes. It even has summer and holiday camps, parents’ night out, sleepovers and birthday parties as well.
scatsgym.com | Huntington Beach
Best Dance Studio for Children
Storeybook Dance Studio School
Some kids are just born to dance, and what better place to do it than a place that drops you into a fairytale world complete with beautiful costumes and gorgeous choreography? Storeybook Dance Studio in Orange has seasonal lists of shows like “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” “Finding Nemo” and more as well as classes it holds for children trying to perfect their dance moves.
storeybookdance.com | Orange
Best Horseback Riding Facility
Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center
Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center is the perfect place for kids to learn all kinds of styles of horseback riding including Western, English, dressage, therapeutic and trail riding. It will even board your horse if you are looking for your riding companion to have a cozy place to stay. You can even host your wedding at this picturesque venue that is only two miles from the ocean.
hcpec.com | Huntington Beach
Best Kids Yoga Studio
Sprouting Yogis
Sprouting Yogis is no stranger to this list as we have seen them a few times in the top spot. This awesome yoga studio is designed for kids to experience yoga in a playful and fun way with interactive games, animated postures and appreciating the art of fitness through yoga. Kids will practice things like concentration, awareness and self-control all while having a fun time balancing and mastering flexibility. Classes are offered both in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom in places like your home.
sproutingyogis.com | Mission Viejo
Best Language Program
Orange County Lingual Institute
Whether your child is looking to master a language or even be conversational on an international trip, Orange County Lingual Institute will help your child reach their goal with ease. Classes for kids include Spanish, French, Italian and Chinese. It also meets once a week for an hour and the curriculum includes the alphabet, songs, games, practical words, phrases and basic dialogues. You can also choose to be in a class with multiple students or opt for private lessons.
oclanguages.com | Costa Mesa
Best Martial Arts Class
Jimmy Kim’s Taekwondo Center
Developed in 1988 by Olympic Gold Medalist Jimmy Kim, Jimmy Kim’s Taekwondo Center (or JKTC) believes in honoring taekwondo traditions and gives all members of the studio invaluable life skills in self-defense. Whether you are a beginner, want to spar, looking to join a fight night or want to be part of an all-levels or advanced class, there is a place for every kid wanting to learn the art of taekwondo.
jktc.com | Laguna Niguel
Best Swim Class
Aqua Duks Swim School
Aqua Duks Swim School encourages kids of all ages to love swimming. Do you have an infant that is 3 to 5 months old? Kids that young can get free swim classes as Aqua Duks wants even the youngest kids to learn how to swim and not fear the water. Your kid can be enrolled in small classes, parent-and-me classes or even private lessons depending on what their level is.
aquaduks.com | Anaheim
Best Theater Class
The Performer’s Academy
Kids as young as 4 years old can develop a love for theater at The Performer’s Academy in Lake Forest. Kids can take a wide variety of classes including voiceover workshops, intro to the fundamentals of acting, vocal training and singing, acting for TV and film, and much more. You can also have your kids join a musical or take a summer camp if classes aren’t enough for your budding actor. Additionally, you can enroll your kids in an actor’s forum where they can get specialized coaching, professional headshots, performance evaluations and a Q&A panel.
performersacademy.net | Lake Forest
Best Coding Class
Code Ninjas — Los Alamitos
Code Ninjas isn’t just any coding class — it is a ninja coding experience. Its classrooms, called dojos, don’t only teach coding, it teaches creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking and STEM in a safe and fun environment. It also sets clear learning goals and personalized curriculums rather than a one-size-fits-all coding program. Code Ninjas has hundreds of locations throughout the U.S. and also in Canada and the United Kingdom.
codeninjas.com | Los Alamitos
Best Music Lessons
South Coast Music Together
Established in 1987, South Coast Music Together is an international, research-based music program for infants and toddlers. Founders Kenneth Guilmartin and Dr. Jill Levinowitz believe music is a rite of passage for children and should be taught just like walking and talking are taught to children, and that every child can and should be musical. South Coast Music Together has been part of the Orange County community since 1999, and continues to grow with each passing year.
southcoastmusictogether.com | Multiple Locations
Best Soccer Program
SoCal Reds FC
If your child likes soccer, SoCal Reds FC is the place for them to check out as there is a little something for everyone whether you are just learning the basics, or want to play competitively. Players can join a camp, play on a team or even play recreationally. There are tryouts required for the competitive teams, but everyone is welcome to try. Also, the program is for both girls and boys and kids can start at 5 years old.
socalredsfc.com | Irvine
Best After-School Athletics
Ultimate Ninjas
If you want your kids to turn obstacles into confidence-boosting and skill-building opportunities, Ultimate Ninjas is the place for them. There are a variety of skills Ultimate Ninjas builds including balancing, hanging, jumping, climbing and running. Obstacles like climbing an 8-foot curved wall, pull-ups, ring swings and balance beam are just a few of the things your child will encounter during the fun classes here. You can also do open play or schedule a party.
ultimateninjas.com | Anaheim
Best Kid’s Art Class
Art Therapy OC
Art Therapy OC offers art sessions, camps, workshops and more to kids that are looking to tap into their creative side. Run by board-certified art therapist Diana Shabtai (or Miss Dee), these classes are designed to help kids relieve stress while exploring the world of art and learning how to express themselves creatively. It also hosts workshop events that feature various artists and art organizations that are highly respected by the community.
arttherapyoc.com | Newport Beach
Best Cheer Class
SoCal Thunder Cheer
If you are looking to start your cheer journey young, or advance your cheer career, SoCal Thunder has a spot for you. This amazing cheer program teaches kids at various levels the fundamentals of cheer while fostering growth in every member. Not only does it focus on success and self-esteem on the mat, but outside of cheer as well. Kids can join in on group classes or private lessons.
socalthundercheer.com | Westminster
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Best After-School Program
Urban Workshop
Urban Workshop is an accredited facility for welders and a technical training center for students. Their mission is to make learning more accessible to the community and instill confidence in young makers. Kids can access tools and equipment while learning hands-on in a supportive environment. Youth STEM and industrial arts exploration programs for children 10 to 16 years old are available year round. Urban Workshop also offers summer and winter camps.
urbanworkshop.net | Costa Mesa
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