Snow Days Fun For Tulsa-Area Kids, Not Fun For Some Parents

Carrie Netherton, 918moms.com

TULSA, Oklahoma --  While some kids get to have some fun during snow days, that's not always the case for their parents.

"We don't," Katie Peoples said, laughing. "We have to go to work."

Katie Peoples is a mom of two. She and her husband both work at local hospitals. Luckily, her employer, St. Francis Hospital, has an on-site daycare for the young children and has an option for school-age children on snow days.

"Those students can come in, basically as a drop-off as long as their parent is an employee at St. Francis," she said. "So I have a pretty good set-up here. And if all else fails, there's always grandma."

St. Francis Hospital is expecting much more noise and children to take over their daycare.

"Since the hospital is a medically based facility, we need them to be here so they can take care of their patients," Kim Laidley said.

But some parents don't have this option. So they're faced with a choice: either someone stays home or they the kids to work with them or they find someplace to watch their kids. One of these places is Polliwogs Playground.

"It's part-time childcare. Kids can be here for up to six hours in a day, 24 hours in a week and it's just as you need it," Laura Holloway, owner, said.

Many parents may need it.

Parents who walk through the door pay by the hour. For children ages 2-12, it costs $3.95. For younger children, its $4.95 per hour.

Owner Laura Holloway says they always see more kids during snow days. The amount of kids depends on the amount of snow.

"We hear a lot of appreciation of 'Thank God you're here," she said. "You've got nannies that can't make it or cancel or schools out or things fall through."

For Katie Peoples, she's just glad she's got her plan in place.

"There's always being out on the roads makes me a little nervous, but once I get them here I know they're safe, they're warm, they're well taken care of," she said.

Other options include drop-off childcare at some YMCA's in Green Country, plus Seeking Sitters, which finds a babysitter for you.

Find more options at 918moms.com