At MetroFamily, our purpose has always been to help local families find fun ways to connect and grow together. With concerns about the coronavirus increasing, we have created this space for Oklahoma families to find important resources all in one location, including potential closings in the OKC metro area and valuable information about how to keep your family safe. We’ve also included some fun ideas for families that decide that staying home is the right choice for them. And we’re focused on the fact that it’s a time for all of us to come together … read our editor’s note about how we can exhibit the Oklahoma Standard during tumultuous times.
(Editor’s Note: This is a working list last updated Aug. 17, 2020. If you have any additional information you think should be added here including event cancellations, school updates or other news our community should be aware, please email tips@metrofamilymagazine.com.)
**Per an executive order issuesd by Governor Kevin Stitt, state parks, outdoor recreation and personal care businesses can reopen unless the city the entity operates in has a proclamation stating otherwise. Effective May 1, restaurants dining rooms, movie theatrers, gyms, sporting venues, places of worship and tattoo parlors can also reopen. Find more information on the next phases on the state’s Open Up and Recover Safely plan.**
- Restaurant services open for take-out and/or dine in
- Farmers markets open in the OKC metro with social distancing modifications
- Bricktown Harkins Theatre, open Aug. 28
- National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, open
- Wheeler District Ferris Wheel, open
- Science Museum Oklahoma, open
- Harn Homestead, open, social distancing and mask encouraged.
- Oklahoma City Zoo, offering Outdoor Safari Walks . The one-way, two-mile trail takes guests on a modified pathway through the park to view a majority of the Zoo’s outdoor animal habitats.
- RIVERSPORT Adventures, open
- Oklahoma City Museum of Art, open. Museum Cafe will remain closed.
- Penn Square Mall, open
- Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, museum and memorial open. The OKC Memorial Marathon is delayed to Oct. 4.
- Metropolitan Library System, libraries open with limited services, no in-person programs or events. The system is now offering curbside pickup for library books reserved as a hold online.
- Pioneer Library System, limited in-building services available, in-person programs suspended through Aug. 31
- Topgolf, open
- 45th Infantry Division Museum, open
- Skate Galaxy, open
- Rodeo Opry, open
- ShowBiz Cinemas, open
- Arctic Edge Ice Arena, open
- Sky Zone Edmond, open
- Clue Quest, open
- Myriad Gardens & Scissortail Park, Crystal Bridge and Mo’s Carousel open with social distancing measures, Children’s Garden & Scissortail Park playground open. Grounds open to the public.
- SoccerCity, open
- Bricktown Taxi, open
- Edmond Historical Society & Museum, open
- Oklahoma City Public Schools campuses, playgrounds and athletic fields, closed until further notice.
- OKC playground equipment, open
- OKC Recreation Centers, open with precautions
- Edmond park playground, open
- Norman playground equipment, open
- Moore playground equipment, open
- Midwest City parks open
- Oklahoma Aquarium, open
- Oklahoma Contemporary, opening Aug. 26 with timed ticketing, admission is still free
- Regional Food Bank, events and all large volunteer shifts canceled, until further notice
- Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, opening Aug. 11 with precautions.
- Chickasaw Cultural Center, closed
- Oklahoma Hall of Fame, open
- Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, tentatively reopening Aug. 11
- Mix-Tape at Factory Obscura, open to small group reservations
- OKC Dodgers, season canceled
- SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology, open
- HeyDay Entertainment, open
- American Banjo Museum, open
- Greater OKC YMCA locations, open
- Oklahoma Railway Museum, open
- Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, open. Admission is free through August and admission will be limited to 10 visitors at a time.
- Civic Center Music Hall & Hudiburg Cherovlet Center, open
- Frontier City, open
- Hurricane Harbor, open
- Okie Kids Playground, open
- Bubba’s Playzone, open
- Breakaway Indoor Playground, open
- Kidz Funtown, open
- Goldfish Swim School, open
- Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum, open
- All OHS museums, select locations open including the Oklahoma History Center, masks required. Events canceled or postponed.
- Gathering Place in Tulsa, reopening in phases
- Stafford Air & Space Museum, open
- COVID-19 Cases in Oklahoma by zipcode
- Insighful messages from local moms about a variety of topics families are currently facing
- Tips to alleviate children’s anxiety about COVID-19 from Stacey Johnson, a local family counselor.
- Kid-friendly video explaining viruses and the new coronavirus, or a parent guide from PBS Kids
- Family-focused ways to de-stress, courtesy PBS Kids
- New to working at home with kids? Two local moms, ReRe Lunsford and Erin Engelke, offer their tips to juggle work and kids at home.
- According to a news release from OKDHS, officials are encouraging parents who can to keep their children at home to fully achieve proper social distancing while also allowing for space for children of first responders and health care workers. If you need help finding child care, call the Oklahoma Child Care Resource & Referral Association at 800-438-0008.
- Food and meal resources during COVID-19 closures
- Local restuarants offering take-out, curbside pickup and/or delivery services.
- Wide Open School, a free online resource created by Common Sense to support families and educators during remote learning, offers resources from publishers, nonprofits and educatio companies. Find guidance on daily schedules, emotional well-being and a variety of academic and life skills.
- Rainbow Fleet offers info, referrals as schools close due to COVID-19. The YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City is offering daily, weekday childcare to parents who work in Essential Critical Infrastructure who are required to report to work and do not have access to other care. To learn more, call 405-224-0655 or email rjackson@ymcaokc.org.
- CarryOutOK.com is a local dining guide for restuarants throughout Oklahoma offering to-go options. You’ll find hours, services and temporary carry out menus.
- The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program has implemented an online application for new and existing clients in order to minimize exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
- The Metropolitan Library System has put together a series of tours for cycling, walking and/or driving through some historical parts of Oklahoma City.
- Fun, at-home activities to keep boredom at bay.
- Coloring pages from #OKCMOAathome.
- Stay calm by staying active with these move-anywhere exercises and family-friendly activities from Shape Your Future.
- Virtual field trips & educational activities online
- Homeschooling? Here are some free or low-cost educational resources, compiled by The Homeschool House, an Oklahoma-based, homeschooling support organization and five tips from a local homeschooling mom.
- At-home art and educational activities from Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute.
- Local moms get real about homeschooling amid unexpected school closures.
- Girls with Impact, an academy for young women, is offering their online academy for free to girls ages 12 – 18 nationwide. The Academy, created with Harvard experts, is like a mini-MBA designed teach entrepreneurship skills. To take advantage, girls should register soon to meet the March 19 orientation.
- Online learning services including TedEd, Reading Eggs and Khan Academy are offering free online resources for families learning at home.
- A round-up of reader favorite board games to shake up your game closet.
- A look at the best places to explore nature in OKC (fresh air and social distancing included!)
- Fresh up your meal-time with these recipes to menus as well as 50 pantry-friendly recipes & substitutions that work from Cookie + Kate. As families adjust to more time at home, the Oklahoma Beef Council is offering tips and ideas for batch cooking and leftovers to ensure meal planning is stress-free and packs a nutritious punch at www.oklabeef.org/updates. Plus, Shape Your Future has dozens of quick, delicious and healthy recipes as well as budget-friendly, time-saving tips for meal planning.
- Creative, educational activities from Shaun The Homeschool Guru.
- Turn math time into game time with these creative card games from Weareteachers.com.
- CDC guidelines have us keeping our distance physically but that doesn’t mean we have to go through this alone. Here are some creative ways to help kids (and adults, too) stay connected during this time of social distancing.
- Explore computer science with free courses from Amazon’s Future Engineer program including coding, robotics and more. PLUS, Audible, an Amazon company, offers free streaming for kids as long as schools are closed.
- Stay indoors activity guide from the Greater OKC Parks & Trails Foundation.
- Stay-at-home & play-at-home ideas from Smart Start of Central Oklahoma:
- Coronavirus: What Oklahoma parents need to know
- Coronavirus Update: Social Distancing and Spring Break
- Let’s Celebrate Coming Together – note from our editor
- OKC-County Health Dept. resource page
- Information on the statewide response from the Oklahoma State Dept. of Health
- CDC household preparation guide
- CDC’s advice on travel within the US
- Risk assessment for travel outside of the US
- Global information from the World Health Organization