Child Care in Aberdeen, South Dakota
Aberdeen was also named one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise Alliance two years in a row. Parents can choose what best fits their needs and parenting styles from several childcare centers, in-home daycare providers, and preschools.
Aberdeen tackles issues concerning young people in the community such as affordable daycare and youth mentor programs. Aberdeen’s local United Way chapter dedicates nearly half of its budget to youth programs while the city budget supports a variety of youth initiatives from arts to recreation and education. Different sectors in Aberdeen are also working to bring more resources and services to young people including the Boys & Girls Club of Aberdeen and the Aberdeen Family YMCA.
Daycare
This means the daily care of your children by someone other than you, typically outside of your own home. There are different types of daycares.
One option is an in-home daycare. This means you send your child to somebody else’s home who watches the kids. Another is institutions – these are daycare centers in buildings that typically have more children at them. Most daycares require you to register and pay weekly or monthly. Some cities have drop-in daycares where you can bring your children for just a few hours.
Most states license daycares. This means they monitor if the daycare is safe or not. The RCO recommends you choose a daycare that is licensed. Most states also have programs to help you find a daycare in your area. You can search the RCO My State page to find resources about daycares in your state.
Babysitters
A babysitter is an individual that you pay to watch your children. Most babysitters will come to your house. Sometimes teenagers will babysit. If you are looking for a babysitter, try to find someone you know and trust. You can also ask friends if they know of any babysitters. You should ask your babysitter to take a CPR and First Aid Class.
Child Swaps
You may be able to find another parent who will “swap” children with you. This means you will watch their children one day and they will watch your children one day. This is a good idea if you have family or friends who have children close in age to your children.
Preschool
Starting around age 2, you can send your children to preschool. Preschools help prepare kids for school. The U.S. has a national program, called HeadStart, which offers lost-cost preschool for low-income families.
You can find a HeadStart program near you by searching the HeadStart webpage.
Below you’ll find a list of available preschools in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
- Lighthouse Preschool at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
- Just Kidding Childcare Center
- Montessori School Aberdeen
- Kingdom Kids Preschool at Aldersgate Church
- NESD HeadStart
- Bethlehem Lutheran’s Preschool
- Trinity Lutheran Preschool
- Bethesda Learning Academy
- Mangrove Montessori School
- Ready, Set, Grow Childcare & Preschool
- YDC Pre-School & Pre-Kindergarten
- Roncalli SonShine Patch
- Aberdeen Christian School
Summer Camps and Day Camps
During the summer, you may be able to find camps to send your child to. Camps normally focus on a particular activity. For example, you can find sports camps, art camps, drama camps, etc. A lot of time summer camps and day camps will offer scholarships for low-income families.
After School Programs
If you need child care for a child that is already in school, you should look into after-school programs. Many schools will offer low-cost or free after-school programs for kids. There might even be specific programs just for refugee youth. Ask your child’s school to see if they know of any after-school programs that would be a good fit for your child. These types of programs can help your children adjust to their new schools, help them with their homework, and help them meet new friends.