Art School
Your child may be the next Picasso. You can certainly get a better idea of your child’s artistic abilities by sending him or her to Philbrook Museum of Art for lessons. Another popular art school, Tulsa Girls Art School, encourages girls living in underprivileged areas of Tulsa to explore creating art. Dana Gilpin also offers great art classes for budding artists.
In Oklahoma City, City Arts Center is the place to take your child for art lessons. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art and Edmond Fine Arts Institute round out favorites west of I-35.
Camp
It’s summertime, and parents and kids alike are looking for fun activities to occupy all that free time. In Tulsa, parents send their children to Encore Theatre Arts to learn the basics of acting. Camp Loughridge and New Life Ranch are also popular choices, as are Riverfield Country Day School and YMCA’s Camp Takatoka, both located in Tulsa.
Oklahoma City’s YMCA Camp Classen has kids excited for summer outdoor activities. City Arts Center summer camps are popular for those budding artists. Oklahoma City Zoo summer camps round out the top choices for camps in Oklahoma City.
Children’s Clothing Store
When you need to dress the little one to the nines, where do you go? In Tulsa, it’s Kathleen’s Kids that’s keeping kids in designer duds as the largest children’s boutique in the region. Perennial favorite GapKids is also a popular stop for children’s clothing, as is The Lolly Garden located in Utica Square.
In Oklahoma City, it’s Uptown Kids located in the trendy Classen Curve that has kids stylin’ and profilin’. Once again, GapKids receives kudos for its stylish and affordable children’s clothing. Another favorite, The Children’s Place, boasts three locations in the Oklahoma City metro area.
Dance School
Does your tot have all that jazz? Find out at Miss Shelly’s School of Dance, where Tulsa readers say they like to send their kids for dance lessons. Also popular are South Tulsa Dance Company and Theatre Arts.
In Oklahoma City, everything does go at Everything Goes Dance Studio, where the instructors teach everything from ballet to the tango. Victory Dance and The Dance Center of Oklahoma City Ballet are also reader favorites.
Family Entertainment
There are some great places in our state for the entire family to have fun. Incredible Pizza Company is the destination of many Tulsa families. Also popular are the arcade-like Dave & Buster’s and the always-entertaining Oklahoma Aquarium.
In Oklahoma City, it’s Oklahoma City Zoo that keeps families entertained, especially with the recent addition of a baby elephant. Science Museum Oklahoma and Bricktown bowling alley Red Pin round out favorites.
Family-Friendly Dining
There are some restaurants that are definitely more family-friendly than others. The accessible food and great entertainment provided by Incredible Pizza Company make it the top spot for family-friendly dining in Tulsa. Dave & Buster’s and Mexican restaurant El Chico are also favorites.
It’s pizza and burgers for the family in Oklahoma City, as the popular pizza chain Hideaway Pizza claims tops for family-friendly dining. The exotic pies of The Wedge Pizzeria make this casual-upscale restaurant a favorite, and Irma’s Burger Shack rounds out the top destinations for family-friendly dining.
Music School
Some parents like to nurture their children’s creativity; still others have a music prodigy on their hands. When developing musical ability, Brook Fine Arts Academy receives the top spot in Tulsa on our list, followed by Saied Music Company and Barthelmes Conservatory.
In Oklahoma City, Sonder Music, Dance & Art receives kudos for its creative approach to teaching students. Other favorites in Oklahoma City include Super Key Music Studies and Ginger’s Kindermusik.
Park
There’s nothing like spending a day at the park with the kids. In Tulsa, it’s LaFortune Park that parents most enjoy visiting with kids. If you go, be sure to bring bread to feed the ducks. Also favorites are Tulsa River Parks, Woodward Park and Hunter Park, with its dog area called Bark Park.
In Oklahoma City, readers enjoy spending time in Lake Hefner Park along the shores of its namesake. Earlywine Park and Edmond’s Hafer Park are also favorites.
Pediatrician
Whether your kiddo is feeling under the weather or simply needs an annual check-up, having a great pediatrician in your corner is a must. That’s why our Tulsa readers recommend Dr. Patrick J. Daley. Following Dr. Daley are Dr. Donald Hamilton and Broken Arrow’s Dr. Carl Pfanstiel.
In Oklahoma City, it’s a tie for first between Dr. Stephanie Grim and Dr. Amie Prough. Dr. R. Kevin Moore also received accolades in Oklahoma City, as did Dr. Mickey Crittenden.
Place for Kids’ Activities
Whether it’s for a birthday or just a fun day on the town, parents agree that BounceU of Tulsa is a top spot in T-Town for children’s activities. This is followed closely by the Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum. The wonderment of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium is also a top destination.
In Oklahoma City, it’s the call of the wild of the Oklahoma City Zoo that makes it a top spot for kids’ activities. Making science fun and accessible is the mission of Science Museum Oklahoma, which received accolades in Oklahoma City as a great place for kids’ activities. Rounding out favorites is the excitement of Oklahoma City Thunder games.
Toy Store
Whether you’re shopping for your own little tyke or picking up a treat for that special niece or nephew, Tulsa readers recommend visiting Toys “R” Us for its stellar selection of toys. Tulsa-based Kiddlestix also gets a nod for its unique and innovative toys. Utica Square’s Snow Goose rounds out the Tulsa favorites in the toy store category.
In Oklahoma City, it’s Toys “R” Us once again getting the nod for tops in toy stores. Kidoodles Toy Zone in Norman is a favorite with children for their fun, whimsical toy offerings. Learning Tree, specializing in toys, games and books, is also a popular choice in Oklahoma City.
Tutoring Service
Your kiddo may need a little extra help with reading or math. So where do you turn? Our readers across the state say that Kaplan Tutoring is a top spot for helping children learn. Up next is Kumon Math and Reading Center, followed by Sylvan Learning.
