From toddler to kindergartner, comprehensive child care proves ideal for Sioux Falls family

This piece is sponsored by EmBe.

Eden VanDerSloot faced the kind of crossroads that’s all too familiar to Sioux Falls-area parents: The family’s child care center announced that it was closing, and they started to scramble.

“Luckily, EmBe South had an opening for both our kids,” said VanDerSloot, whose kids were 4 and 2 when they began attending child care at EmBe.

“We really, really liked it,” she said.

“The staff were very welcoming, and we thought our kids would do really well with the programming EmBe has. EmBe South has a really big gym with great outdoor play areas, and the field trips intrigued me. You always wonder how much additional activities like field trips are going to cost, and those are actually included in your tuition, which is really great. My eldest son still talks about field trips he went on with EmBe.”

As a 4-year-old in early 2024, Aiden began in the EmBe Scholars room. “I could tell he was really improving and developing his learning,” VanDerSloot said. “We could tell he knew his numbers and letters and really developed even emotionally. I thought his teachers did a very good job teaching him to communicate effectively and regulate emotions when he’s having a tough time.”

The program prepared him well for a transition to kindergarten, which he began this school year, VanDerSloot said.

“They do a pre-assessment, and he did really well at that, so you definitely could tell his teachers at EmBe had prepared him,” she said. “He already knew what to expect when he went into kindergarten as far as the day and the routine and the rules to follow, and it’s going really, really well.”

Before he started kindergarten this August, Aiden spent his summer in School Age Care at EmBe, which further prepared him to interact with older kids.

“It’s a whole different world going from being the oldest in Pre-K to being one of the younger in School Age Care and interacting with older kids,” VanDerSloot said. “They were constantly on the go. There’s no downtime or nap, and I think that’s a really good bridge to kindergarten.”

Her younger son, Emmett, now is 3 years old and has transitioned into the Inventors room. “He’s matured as well,” VanDerSloot said. “He can communicate effectively and uses his words really well, and I’ve noticed lately his shape recognition, colors and numbers are really growing.”

She also appreciates EmBe’s Procare app, “which offers a lot of communication and photos, so you can feel like even though you’re not there, you’re still kind of there,” she said.

EmBe South currently has availability for children from 16 months old through 5 years old. A waitlist for infants is available.

“EmBe takes great pride in the team that cares for our students — they are tenured, educated, highly trained, relational professionals,” EmBe South child care manager Caitlin Rothschadl said.

“We believe in relationships and building connections with our families first. You’ll see that from the minute you walk in our buildings — you matter, and you are important within our walls. We truly become an extension of your family, and we feel honored to spend the amount of time with our kids that their parents trust us to provide care.”

Families also appreciate wonderful additions like swim lessons, field trips, EmBe Education curriculum and quality meals, she added.

EmBe’s comprehensive approach to child care means children can begin at EmBe as infants and stay until kindergarten. The EmBe team assesses them at every stage, ensuring that their academic needs are not only met but pushed to reach higher.

“We often receive feedback that EmBe students are high achieving in their kindergarten screenings due to the intentional preparation we do in our pre-kindergarten classrooms,” Rothschadl said.

“Development is what matters most to us; not every child develops the same way or on the same timeline. We believe in meeting our students where they are and work with our families to place each learner in the right classroom and environment that will help them to learn and grow successfully.”

Now that Emmett still attends EmBe daily and Aiden is in kindergarten, VanDerSloot can take advantage of EmBe’s School Age Care program after school thanks to a new offering this year.

EmBe picks up students at Aiden’s elementary school and brings them to EmBe South, so VanDerSloot has one pickup location at the end of her day.

“It’s really nice having them both at the same place at the end of the day other than driving all over town to do pickups in two locations,” she said. “Most kids are there by 3:30 p.m., and they still have great programming after school. He also got really close to some of the staff over the summer and was sad not to be with them every day, so now he’s going to a familiar place with familiar people, and that’s great.”

Many parents have similar arrangements “and appreciate the convenience of picking them up in the same place,” Rothschadl said.

EmBe’s School Age Care offers transportation to and from the following Sioux Falls elementary schools for the 2025-26 school year: Discovery, John Harris, Sonia Sotomayor and Pettigrew. Depending on demand, other locations could be serviced. Reach out to Sadie Mudder at [email protected] if interested.

School-age students have the opportunity to explore a variety of social, life, motivation, enrichment skills and self-improvement activities.

Before school: Starts at 6 a.m.
Students have the opportunity to get last-minute help with homework, socialize with friends, have breakfast and enjoy recreation time.

After school: Ends at 6 p.m.

The EmBe team teaches children with engaging projects such as art, gym games, club involvement, community service projects, group and special activities, STEM, reading, socializing and help with homework. Although participation in daily activities is not mandatory, students are encouraged to explore different areas daily. A healthy snack is served daily.

Before and after-school care services are held at the following locations:

• EmBe South
• Harrisburg Endeavor
• Harrisburg Freedom
• Harrisburg Horizon
• Harrisburg Liberty

You can enroll in EmBe’s School Age Care program at any time throughout the year. EmBe also offers care on no-school days aligned with school calendars, but your child must be enrolled with EmBe before the no-school day that you would like to attend. Contact Derrick Spader at 605-941-2227 to learn more about EmBe’s no-school days programs, or enroll here.

As a parent, “the one big thing I really appreciate is the staff at EmBe really take the time to get to know your kids and kind of think of them as their own,” VanDerSloot said. “That’s what you want as a mom when you’re dropping off a part of you every day.”

To learn more about all available child care at EmBe, visit here.