childcare - EmBe

The Challenge of Finding Childcare

Mikena VanLiere2020-08-10T12:56:57-05:00

Finding childcare can pose a challenge to any parent. Finding childcare that prioritizes children’s learning, health and safety is often much more difficult. Megan Koppen, a working mom, knew she wanted a center with these qualities and more. Koppen began her search for childcare with Google. “We literally did a Google search, and EmBe was the first one that popped up,” Koppen said. Koppen scheduled a tour and was impressed with what she found. “We really loved the security of it,” she said. “I’m kind of a neat freak, so cleanliness was a big thing. You could tell it was [...]

The Challenge of Finding ChildcareMikena VanLiere2020-08-10T12:56:57-05:00

Shelby’s Childcare Experience

Mikena VanLiere2020-07-06T13:59:12-05:00

Shelby Hartung noticed a difference in EmBe’s childcare from the moment she met the downtown location staff. “Everybody felt like friends. That was the biggest experience we had on our tour.” Hartung discovered EmBe shortly after moving from Bismarck, North Dakota. She began her search for childcare with Google, and EmBe’s name appeared at the top of the list. After scanning EmBe’s web page, Hartung called to set up a tour. On her tour, she met Desiree Wolfe, EmBe’s Downtown Childcare Site Manager. Wolfe led her through the facility, showing Hartung the spaces for learning and play. Hartung felt an [...]

Shelby’s Childcare ExperienceMikena VanLiere2020-07-06T13:59:12-05:00

Meet Our Twos Teacher: Miss Zhenya

Mikena VanLiere2019-03-07T10:28:38-06:00

Classical music drifts through the halls at EmBe Downtown. If you follow those notes to their origin, you’ll find yourself in the Twos - a bright, lively room full of culture and thoughtfulness. And at the heart of it is Miss Zhenya Lukyanova, the lead teahcer and person responsible for creating such a unique learning environment. Her Time At EmBe Miss Zhenya has been with EmBe since April 2013. She began as a float at EmBe South and since March 2016 has been the lead teacher in theTwos. She spent her years before moving to America as a Professor of [...]

Meet Our Twos Teacher: Miss ZhenyaMikena VanLiere2019-03-07T10:28:38-06:00

Engage Your Imagination with Dramatic Play

Courtney Place2019-02-19T13:49:10-06:00

In the Dramatic Play Area children take on different roles and recreate real-life experiences. They use props and make-believe to deepen their understanding about the world they live in. The ability to pretend is very important to your child’s development. Children who know how to make believe develop a good vocabulary, which is important for reading. They learn to cooperate with others and solve problems, and are able to think abstractly—all important skills for success in school. When children pretend, they have to recall experiences and re-create them. To do this, they need to picture their experiences in their minds. [...]

Engage Your Imagination with Dramatic PlayCourtney Place2019-02-19T13:49:10-06:00

EmBe Kids Enjoy Intergenerational Activities

Courtney Place2019-01-17T15:51:04-06:00

Little voices and laughter echo through the halls at Trailridge, the Senior Living Community located down the street from EmBe South. Those “little voices” are preschoolers who have the opportunity to build relationship with older adults and participate in fun activities. Some of the past events include crafts, story time and bounce house fun for the children. In 2019, classes will participate in several activities with Trailridge including a Valentine’s Day craft, an Easter egg hunt and snowman building. The children are always excited to see the “grandmas and grandpas” and the residents of Trailridge have stated that they love [...]

EmBe Kids Enjoy Intergenerational ActivitiesCourtney Place2019-01-17T15:51:04-06:00

Turkey Tom Teaches Kids to Give Back

Mikena VanLiere2018-12-10T15:50:31-06:00

Our annual "Tom the Turkey" food drive was a great success! This fun activity teaches our EmBe kids about giving back at an early age while raising important donations for Feeding South Dakota. This year, we raised 419 pounds of food! For every item of food the child donated, they got to color a feather to add to our turkey! As you can see, we had two very colorful birds when we finished! Children at both of our Sioux Falls locations participated. We are incredibly lucky to have EmBe families who understand the importance of giving to those who are [...]

Turkey Tom Teaches Kids to Give BackMikena VanLiere2018-12-10T15:50:31-06:00

EmBe participating in South Dakota Gives on Giving Tuesday

Mikena VanLiere2018-11-20T17:50:45-06:00

First comes Black Friday, then Small Business Saturday followed by Cyber Monday. But at EmBe our favorite day is Giving Tuesday. Started as a day for consumers take a break from holiday shopping and do some holiday giving instead. EmBe has been participating in Giving Tuesday events for several years. This year, EmBe is participating in South Dakota Day of Giving on Giving Tuesday. For the first time ever, South Dakota has a concentrated effort to raise the philanthropic efforts of nonprofits on Giving Tuesday. Through a series of challenges and tasks, South Dakota Gives will hand out $125,000 in [...]

EmBe participating in South Dakota Gives on Giving TuesdayMikena VanLiere2018-11-20T17:50:45-06:00

Effectively Disciplining Your Children

Mikena VanLiere2018-10-25T10:51:51-05:00

Our staff not only serve as great resources for the women and families we serve but they are full of knowledge they share with the community. This week, our Director of Childcare Services LaToria Horan stopped by KELOLAND Living to talk about disciplining your children. If you're interested in enrolling your child in childcare or preschool at EmBe, inquire about openings by contacting us at info@embe.org.

Effectively Disciplining Your ChildrenMikena VanLiere2018-10-25T10:51:51-05:00

New polling shows America is for afterschool

Mikena VanLiere2018-10-25T10:05:01-05:00

By NIKKI YAMASHIRO Posted: Oct 22, 2018 THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED AT AFTERSCHOOLALLIANCE.ORG Just in time for Lights On Afterschool, the only national rally celebrating afterschool, a new national poll is out that shows strong public support for afterschool. Nearly 9 in 10 adults (89 percent) agree that afterschool programs are important to their community, with bipartisan and nationwide support for afterschool programs cutting across party lines as well as geographic regions. Among Democrats, 94 percent agree that afterschool is important to their community, and among Republicans, 86 percent agree. Support is highest in the West at 92 percent, followed by the Midwest and Northeast [...]

New polling shows America is for afterschoolMikena VanLiere2018-10-25T10:05:01-05:00

Lights On Afterschool Celebrates 19th Anniversary

Mikena VanLiere2018-10-24T13:39:07-05:00

Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The effort has become a hallmark of the afterschool movement and generates media coverage across the country each year. The Afterschool Alliance organizes Lights On Afterschool to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things—such as science, community service, robotics, Taekwondo and poetry—and discover new skills. The events send a powerful message that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs. EmBe will be [...]

Lights On Afterschool Celebrates 19th AnniversaryMikena VanLiere2018-10-24T13:39:07-05:00