Lifeguard Frank Schawaller playfully squirts Maya Shaver-Shane, 5, with a plastic duck Saturday afternoon at the Santa Splash program at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center. The program, which included swimming, pizza, holiday crafts and Santa, lasted from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Santa helped look after nearly three dozen kids Saturday, giving parents a chance to run some last-minute holiday errands.

“An alternative for a baby sitter, you might say,” said Jai Hoyer, Lawrence Parks and Recreation Indoor Aquatic Center programmer.

The center, 4706 Overland Drive, offers the service every few months for $12 per child, she said.

“You wouldn’t have an experienced baby sitter for that price,” said Brent Moerer, who dropped off his son, Benjamin.

Typically, the program is at night, giving parents time for an evening out, Hoyer said. But Saturday’s Santa Splash program was the first time they’ve conducted it during the day, “to really make it more of an option for parents to go shopping.”

Five staff members spent the day with the 34 kids. A lot of their time was spent in the pool, but they also ate pizza for lunch, played games and made crafts.

“That was fun!” said Lee Nelson, 5, after going down the indoor water slide.

Santa made a visit later, taking last-minute gift requests.

“The kids love it,” Hoyer said. “We always have some kids who are really nervous when they get here, especially if they didn’t come with anyone else. But there’s something about the pool, that once the kids get in, they’re suddenly friends with everyone else.”

Stephanie Walker brought her daughter and a friend to the aquatic center and then headed home to wrap presents.

“It’s a nice experience being able to drop them off,” she said. “I’m able to get stuff done.”