Jacqueline Stansbury

A native Angeleno, Jackie enjoys revisiting her childhood as a mom and writer for Mommy Poppins. She did a lot of cool stuff as a kid and has newfound respect for her own mom who made that happen without the internet! Today in Los Angeles, some things are gone, some have changed and some, like the grunion, remain exactly the same. In her former life, Jackie was a development executive on the Fox Studios lot where she rounded up writer/director lists and covered screenplays. Mommy Poppins is much more fun. Jackie's kids, Benjamin and Juliet, agree.

Latest posts by Jacqueline

Best Pre-College Summer Programs for High School Students

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Tue, 01/31/2023 - 1:00pm

Hoya Summer High School Sessions. Photo courtesy of Georgetown University

Pre-college summer programs have become an increasingly popular way for high school students to get an idea about what they might like to study and decide whether the culture, location, and curriculum of a school is a match before applying to schools. Colleges in every part of the country offer summer programs ranging from four-day seminars to six-week academic intensives in all subjects, from arts to STEM.

Ivy League and other big name university summer programs may be expensive, but some offer free or low cost summer program options for local or lower income students. There are also virtual programs.

Read on for our picks of the best pre-college summer programs for high school students. Find more summer camp recommendations for teens in our Summer Camp Guide.

5 Christmas Tree Delivery Services in NYC that Bring Trees for the Holidays—and Pick Them up After

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Mon, 11/14/2022 - 11:10am

These Christmas tree delivery services make it easy to deck the halls in NYC.

Shopping for a Christmas tree in New York City can be a lovely family holiday activity. If you plan ahead, a day trip out to a nearby farm with the kids to cut your own tree might well become an evergreen tradition. But tree shopping can also be stressful and messy—especially if you leave it to the last minute. Think crowded, picked-over sidewalk tree displays, sap-covered hands, and aching lower backs from dragging trees home on the subway. Decorating the tree is fun. Putting presents under the tree is fun. Getting the tree, transporting it home, and setting it up? Not so much fun. The holidays whiz by and there won't be time for ice skating or baking if you're too tuckered out from transporting a tree that could have been delivered and set up completely hassle-free.

So whether you're a last-minute procrastinator or just prefer the ease of NYC's everything-can-be-delivered culture, a door-to-door tree delivery service might be just right. We've rounded up five local companies that will deliver that tree right to your door, even on Christmas Eve. Many are sustainable and support local farmers. Most offer add-ons like wreaths and lights, and, best of all, a promise to come back and take it to recycle when the season is over.

20 NYC Birthday Party Entertainers Who Bring the Party to You

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Fri, 10/28/2022 - 9:02am

A Princess Like Me sends works with a diverse group of actresses to send princesses and other characters to local birthday party appearances.

Planning a child's birthday party can be overwhelming—there are so many different options! Do you rent out a party room or throw a shindig in a park? Celebrating at home is great, but what to do for entertainment and activities? We've rounded up 20 birthday party performers who will come to you in New York City.

These birthday party performers bring the fun, from face painting to puppet shows, princesses to magicians, spa services to sports. These birthday party entertainers make marking your child's next milestone memorable. Find more tips for planning your perfect party in our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC.

Musical Theater Classes in NYC Where Kids Can Sing, Dance, and Act

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Mon, 10/10/2022 - 8:24am

Harlem School of the Arts has been providing musical theater classes and more arts education in the storied neighborhood since 1964. Photo courtesy of Harlem School of the Arts

Many of our New York City kids grow up on musical theater. It is, after all, right here in our backyard. Inevitably once they're introduced to the magic of seeing a Broadway show, some of them are going to want to move out of the audience and onto the stage, which is where these musical theater classes in NYC come in handy. Luckily, we live in a place where there are as many ways to be in a show as there are to see a show.

The camaraderie of a troupe of performers can equal the team experience of sports—and then, of course, there are those kids who were just born to be center stage. They gotta sing. They gotta dance. They gotta emote. Help them hone their craft with one of our favorite musical theater classes in NYC.

For more great classes for kids, including everything from dance classes in NYC to music classes for babies, check out our New York City Classes for Kids Guide and Classes Directory.

Indoor Rock Climbing Centers and Classes for Westchester Kids

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Tue, 10/04/2022 - 1:00pm

Kids as young as 5 can scale the walls at The Rock Club in New Rochelle. Photo courtesy of The Rock Club

For kids with growing bodies and developing muscles, climbing is an essential activity, one best performed on a play structure or sturdy backyard tree. But when the young ones get squirrrely, nothing is off limits—even the furniture that we tell them is off limits. On days that are too hot, too cold, or too wet for scaling things out of doors, indoor rock climbing facilities are the perfect solution.

Rock climbing is a great workout for everyone, targeting muscles all over the body that can often be hard to reach via traditional exercise. It can increase muscle tone and improve cardiovascular health with regular participation. And because rock climbing requires a combination of physical exertion and creative thinking, even less athletic kids can feel immense pride and satisfaction looking down at what they have accomplished.

You can find more sports classes for kids, and even book a class online, in our directory of classes and listings. Check our Westchester Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

Best Dance Classes for Kids in the Philly Area

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Sun, 09/11/2022 - 8:02am

Ballet classes spark a love for dance at BalletSunMi. Photo courtesy of the school

Dance studios and classes come in a variety of styles for all ages. Some focus on fun and fitness while others trend toward competition and professional training. Many offer classes starting with grown-up & me for the youngest dancers, and expand their variety as children get older and more skilled. Whether the aspiring dancer is into ballet, ballroom, jazz, tap, modern, or hip hop, this list has something for everyone from Center City to the 'burbs.

For more ideas for keeping those kids busy and engaged, check out our Guide to Classes in Philadelphia, where you'll find something for every budding dancer, athlete, artist, and more.

Great Places To Learn Gymnastics in and around Philly

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Wed, 07/27/2022 - 6:40pm

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Gymnastics Center

Deciding on the right activities for kids can be challenging, especially when it means driving one kid to dance classes while dressing the other for swimming lessons. Gymnastics is a popular choice, and one that works for everyone from energetic toddlers to teens who watched Simone Biles in the Olympics. The list of gymnastics schools below includes recreational gymnastics facilities for all ages as well as places where intensive training for competition is the goal.

Find more ideas in our Classes and Enrichment Guide for Philly Kids.

Insider's Guide to Griffith Park: More Things To Do Than Most Angelenos Know!

Submitted by Jacqueline Stansbury on Wed, 03/06/2019 - 9:00am

Photo courtesy of LA Department of Recreation and Parks

Five times the size of New York’s Central Park, Griffith Park was designated as a historic-cultural monument in 2009, protecting it from future development. Angelenos should be thankful to Griffith J. Griffith, a Welsh real estate developer who gifted the land to the city in 1896 as a “place of recreation and rest for the masses.” The result for us has been access to fantastic hiking trails, a home to some of our most iconic museums, and a wealth of other family activities. Lucky Los Feliz and Burbank families can call Griffith Park their local; for the rest of us it's worth setting aside a little time to be surprised by all that Griffith Park has to offer; there are probably one or two items on this list even locals didn't know about!