Northeast Arkansas Kids Directory

A NOTE from the Publisher

Welcome to the March issue of NEA Kids’ Directory, part of the Occasions Publishing Group family of publications.

NEA Kids’ Directory has many features that make it a valuable resource for parents, teachers, grandparents, and childcare professionals – anyone who is involved with children. It is compact in size, making it a handy resource to keep in your purse or car. In addition, it offers valuable coupons for use at kid-friendly businesses and includes a calendar of events so you know what’s going on across Northeast Arkansas each month. You’ll even find a convenient dining guide inside that lists restaurants offering free or discounted kids’ meals!

Our goal each month is to help inform our readers of the many opportunities, events, products and services available for families in Northeast Arkansas. Please remember to support the businesses that advertise in this publication each month and tell them that you saw their ad in NEA Kids’ Directory. If you are interested in advertising in NEA Kids’ Directory please call us at 931-0012.

Audrey Poff, Publisher & Editor

March

THROUGHOUT MARCH

The Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center, located at 600 E. Lawson Road in Jonesboro is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The center ofers visitors the chance to experience a unique piece of North America and its wildlife through multi-sensory movies, exhibits, trails, native gardens, nature programs and activities. Admission is free. Info: (870) 933-6787.

The Arkansas State University Museum, located adjacent to the Dean B. Ellis Library is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During these hours, visitors can enjoy the Family Reading Castle based on the museum’s Mother Goose collection of characters, the Tinkering Studio, galleries and more. Info: (870) 972-2074 or visit astate.edu/museum.

The Foundation of Arts ofers year-round registration for students interested in art, dance, theater and more. For more information, call (870) 935-2726 or visit foajonesboro.org.

Jonesboro Music, located at 2617 E. Nettleton Ave., Suite B, ofers music and movement classes for children ages birth to 7 years old. Year-round enrollment is available. Info: (870) 761-6570 or visit kmusiko onesboro.com.

The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library ofers a variety of free events and activities. Family Storytime takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. in the Storytime Area. For times and locations of other upcoming events, call (870) 935-5133 or visit libraryinjonesboro.org.

The Lawrence County Library ofers programs for children of all ages. Check the Lawrence County Library News or Facebook page for updates on upcoming events. Info: (870) 886-3222 or visit lawrencecountylibrary.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 – SATURDAY, MARCH 9

Rhea Lana’s Semi-Annual Children’s Consignment Event will take place at 5589 Highway 1 South in Jonesboro ofering gently used, high-quality children’s clothes, shoes, toys, books, DVDs, baby equipment, gently used maternity clothes and more. The event will be open to the public. Info: Visit jonesboro.rhealana.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 5

The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library will host a Family Literacy Night in the Round Room from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will include a cozy family story time and a construction-themed activity. Info: (870) 935-5133 or visit libraryinjonesboro.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8 – SUNDAY, MARCH, 10

The Collins Theatre in Paragould will present “Junie B. Jones: The Musical” on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Clad in her purple glasses, Junie B. Jones, together with her classmates and parents, will delight audiences in a show that is fun for the entire family. Tickets are available at act2performingarts.org. Info: (870) 236-6252 or visit collinstheatre.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library will host a Tabletop Game Day with NEA Gamer’s Guild from noon to 5 p.m. in the Round Room. The event will include a day full of tabletop board games and entry into exciting door prizes. Info: (870) 935-5133 or visit libraryinjonesboro.org.

TUESDAY, MARCH 12

The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library will host Tweens Intro to Origami from 4 to 5 p.m. Participants will learn to fold all sorts of origami creations. Info: (870) 935-5133 or visit libraryinjonesboro.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

Games, prizes and photos with the Easter Bunny will be included at Paragould’s Best Easter Egg Hunt 2024 to be held at Paragould Community Center’s soccer elds. Egg hunts are scheduled by age with ages 5 and under beginning at 9 a.m., and ages 6 and up at 10 a.m. Info: Visit paragouldegghunt.com.

MONDAY, MARCH 18 – FRIDAY, MARCH 22

The Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library will host spring activities beginning with Growing Day on Monday; a PBS Solar Eclipse Program and Spring Break Gaming Day on Tuesday, Spring Break Kindness Day on Wednesday; Spring Break Building Day on Thursday; and Spring Break Art Day on Friday. Info: (870) 935-5133 or visit libraryinjonesboro.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 23

Games, prizes and photos with the Easter Bunny will be included in Jonesboro’s Best Easter Egg Hunt 2024 with hunts scheduled according to age group. The event will take place at the softball elds at Craighead Forest Park. Pre-registration is required. Info: Visit jonesboroegghunt.com.

We recently asked our readers to weigh in on the best that Northeast Arkansas has to ofer for kids, parents and families. From their favorite family-friendly restaurant to the best place for after-school care, our readers have made their favorites known and the votes have been counted.

Congratulations to the winners of our sixth annual NEA Kids’ Directory Best Choice Awards for Kids and Families. It is an honor to showcase these individuals, businesses, events and venues that are favorites among families in Northeast Arkansas.

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

BEST FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

Fat City Steak & Grill House

JTown’s Grill

Newk’s Eatery

BEST BURGER

JTown’s Grill

TJ’s Burgers

Five Guys

BEST BREAKFAST

JTown’s Grill

Fat City Steak & Grill House

Sue’s Kitchen Express

BEST FAST FOOD RESTAURANT

Chick-fl-A

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Slim Chickens

BEST PIZZA

Lost Pizza Co.

Papa Cella’s Pizza Chef

Upper Crust Pizza Company

BEST ICE CREAM / FROZEN CUSTARD

Andy’s Frozen Custard

Local Culture Frozen Yogurt

Scoops Ice Cream

BEST BIRTHDAY CAKES

Abby Cakes

Southern Confections Harp’s Bakery (Jonesboro)

BEST COOKIES

Crumbl Cookies

Southern Confections Abby Cakes

BEST DAY CARE CENTER

Discovery Island Learning Center

Hands On Pediatric Learning Center

St Marks Dayschool

BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL

Ridgefeld Christian School

Crowley’s Ridge Academy

Blessed Sacrament School

BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Jonesboro Public Schools

Nettleton Public Schools

Brookland Public Schools

BEST PRESCHOOL CENTER

Jonesboro Pre-K Center (JPS)

Nettleton Public Schools Pre-K

Brookland Public Schools Pre-K

BEST KINDERGARTEN

Jonesboro Kindergarten Center (JPS)

Nettleton Public Schools

Brookland Primary School

BEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Nettleton STEAM Elementary

Brookland Elementary

Visual and Performing Arts (JPS)

BEST AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

Camp Raider (Nettleton)

Cane Academy (JPS)

Brookland School Cat Club

BEST SUMMER CARE PROGRAM

Camp Raider (Nettleton)

Brookland Cat Club

Cane Academy (JPS)

BEST TUTORING SERVICE

Clark’s Tutoring

Academic Advantage (formerly TLC Tutoring)

The APPLE Group

BEST CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT / RESALE SHOP

Once Upon a Child

Rhea Lana’s

BEST FAMILY GROCER

Kroger

Harp’s

The Truck Patch

BEST MOVIE THEATER

Malco Studio (Greensborough Village)

Malco Towne Cinema (Parker Road)

Cinema 8 (Paragould)

BEST KIDS’ PARTY VENUE

Hijinx

Ultimate Air Trampoline Park

Jonesboro Gymnastics Academy

BEST KIDS’ PARTY RENTALS

Grandslam Entertainment

Bounce Brothers Entertainment Party Zone (by R&R Amusements)

BEST PUBLIC PARK

Craighead Forest Park

Miracle League Park

Paragould Community Center

BEST PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL

Paragould Water Park

Jonesboro Pool & Recreation Center

Manila Water Park

BEST FAMILY PRACTICE CLINIC

NEA Baptist - Woodsprings Clinic

St Bernards FirstCare (Parker Road) St Bernards FirstCare (Matthews Avenue)

BEST OB/GYN CLINIC

St Bernards OB-GYN Associates

NEA Baptist Women’s Clinic

Arkansas Methodist Medical Center - Women’s Clinic

BEST PEDIATRIC CLINIC

Apache Drive Children’s Clinic

Jonesboro Pediatric Clinic

The Children’s Clinic

BEST CHILDREN’S THERAPY PROVIDER

Hands On Learning LLC

Therapy Services (Jonesboro)

Jumping Jellybeans Pediatric Therapy

Pathways Pediatric Therapies (Paragould)

BEST DENTAL CLINIC

Jonesboro Pediatric Dental Group

Leap Kids Dental

Bartels Family Dentistry

BEST ORTHODONTIC CLINIC

Fergus Orthodontics

Weaver Orthodontics

Westrock Orthodontics

BEST EYE CARE FOR KIDS

Elite Eye Care Visionary Eye Care Hilltop Eyecare

EYEWEAR/OPTICAL DISPENSARY

Elite Eye Care Visionary Eye Care LensMasters

BEST AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCY CLINIC

St Bernards Urgent Care (Red Wolf)

NEA Baptist Urgent Care (Hilltop) St Bernards Urgent Care (A-State)

BEST HOSPITAL

St Bernards Medical Center

NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital

Arkansas Methodist Medical Center

BEST PHARMACY

The Medicine Shoppe Soo’s Pharmacy Hilltop Pharmacy

BEST COUNSELING CENTER

Families, Inc.

Life Strategies Counseling, Inc.

Better Life Counseling Center

BEST FAMILY LAW PRACTICE

OMG Law Firm

Oldham Law Firm

Rees Law Firm

BEST HAIR CARE FOR KIDS

Sport Clips

Great Clips (Redwolf)

Tara’s Design Team

BEST INFANT/CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY

Melissa Donner Photography

Lauren Tyler Photography

Alyssa Burks Photography (Manila)

BEST FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

Melissa Donner Photography

Lauren Tyler Photography

Whitney Vassar Photography

BEST MUSIC STORE INSTRUMENTS

Back Beat Music

Mr. Chrisso’s Music Shop

All Star Music

BEST CHILDREN’S CLOTHING

Cutie Patootie (Jonesboro)

Kiddly Toes

Once Upon a Child

BEST CHILDREN’S SHOE STORE

Kiddly Toes

Cutie Patootie

Shoe Carnival

BEST CHILDREN’S COSTUME STORE

Golden Grotto

Spirit Halloween Target

BEST PARTY SUPPLY STORE FOR KIDS

Golden Grotto

Hobby Lobby Target

BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE FOR KIDS

Academy Sports and Outdoors

Play It Again Sports

Brooks Golf Center

BEST TOY STORE

The Toy Store

Target

Cutie Patootie

BEST ART SCHOOL

The Foundation of Arts

Dale Case Artwork

Jerri Ann’s Painting & Crafts LLC (Paragould)

BEST CHEERLEADING FACILITY

Jonesboro Cheer Academy

Cheers Unlimited

Priscilla’s Cheer and Tumbling (Paragould)

BEST DANCE STUDIO

Christie McNeill Dance Studio

The Floor

The Foundation of Arts

BEST GYMNASTICS FACILITIES

Jonesboro Gymnastics Academy

Champion’s Gymnastics Center (Paragould)

BEST KARATE/MARTIAL ARTS

PROGRAM

ATA Martial Arts Jonesboro

Legacy Martial Arts Jonesboro

Jonesboro Aikido & Judo

BEST MUSIC INSTRUCTION PROGRAM FOR KIDS

Jonesboro Music

Back Beat Music

Music Bus NEA

BEST SPORTS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR KIDS

Elite Arkansas Training

Ralvis Training Center

St Bernards Sports Performance Training

BEST SWIM INSTRUCTION PROGRAM FOR KIDS

The School of Yaya’s Fishes (Lake City)

Jets Aquatic Club

Genesis’ Swim Lessons (Paragould)