With fewer than a million residents to her name, the state of South Dakota is one friends and neighbors who share close personal ties that are spread out over many miles. The people of South Dakota are family centered, and with close to 130,000 kids under age 12 reported in the last census, it’s easy to understand why finding affordable and reliable childcare is a high priority for most families in this state.
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The numbers show us that many families find it neccesary to work to keep their finances afloat. There are more than 30 thousand children in homes where both parents work and of the 27 thousand single parent families, more than 16 thousand of those single parents are a part of the work force. That means that there are roughly 48 thousand children under age six potentially in need of childcare in South Dakota.
The numbers show us that of these families close to 90 percent of parents say they are in need of full time child care. Breaking down the age groups of children needing childcare (as reported by parents) shows that 61% of children are infants or toddlers, 28% are preschool aged, and just 12% of children in need of care are school aged.
Not unlike other states, the price for infant and toddler care is the highest bracket in the South Dakota childcare system. On average parents can expect to spend close to $5,800 annually for the care of an infant. This number is close to the bottom of the national infant care spread of $4,650-$18,200 annually. Child care costs drop only slightly for preschool aged children. There is a significant savings for children needing just before and after school care. Rates for school aged children register around $3,200 per year per child.
Despite her low population, South Dakota offers a variety of entertainment and enrichment options for children of all ages. Major attractions focusing on the great outdoors include Mount Rushmore, The Black Hills National Forrest and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Other family friendly attractions include the Aberdeen Aquatic Center Outdoor Waterpark and the Mitchell Corn Palace. The Corn Palace is a one of it’s kind museum that is quirky and fun for all age groups. Literary fans and readers of the “Little House on the Prairie” series should not miss a trip to the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead in De Smet.
