Dylan Fosheim is all smiles as he listens to music on the Beboppers Music Bus. The bus stopped by Stepping Stones Preschool last week. Fosheim is the son of Marie Fosheim and Paul Fosheim.  (Photo/Sarah Ebeling)

Sarah Ebeling | Managing Editor

Finding childcare in a community is often a challenge parents face when looking for someone to care for their children while they are away from them. 

Stepping Stones Preschool is one such place in Hartford that is childcare and so much more. 

Owners Melissa and Jeremy Atkins opened their business in 2012 and have been growing ever since. Currently, the daycare has 100 children enrolled and Melissa explained that they have a flexible program to meet all different family dynamics. 

She noted that they offer preschool in the mornings and offer different full day programs too. 

“We are considered more of a preschool than a daycare,” she said. 

With eight full-time and eight part-time employees the preschool keeps its workers busy with different structured and learning activities. 

Melissa said that her background is a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a kindergarten through middle school endorsement. 

She noted that after not finding a job opening when she moved into the area, she took a job in a preschool program, found her niche and hasn’t looked back. 

“The best part is building connections with the kids. By being small we get to know the kids and the family,” said Melissa. 

“The same thing is the hardest part,” she laughed. “It is hard to let them go when they go to kindergarten.” 

Melissa explained that at Stepping Stones, which is state registered, they work to meet the needs of each child. 

Although the facility is at full capacity, they will have a select number of openings in the fall. 

On top of all of the programs that Stepping Stones offers, Melissa said they love to take kids to the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls because their preschool program is very nature based. 

“Kids learn in different ways and it is so good for kids to be outside,” she said. 

Because of this passion, their playground is anything but typical. Melissa explained that they have a natural outdoor classroom and when it is nice out, they will take the entire day’s activities outside. 

She noted that they just ordered a greenhouse and this spring kids will get to help plant a garden and then they will be able to eat the fruits and vegetables they harvest.

Driving by Stepping Stones last week, many may have seen a purple school bus parked out front. 

The bus, which comes four times a year, is home to Beboppers Music. 

The bus, owned and operated by Leah Roozeboom, travels the area teaching youngsters about music. Roozeboom, who has a degree in elementary education with a music endorsement, spent several years operating an in-home daycare before branching out with this new adventure. 

Roozeboom said that music is such an important part of life that she wants to be able to bring it to everyone. 

Because of her passion, in 2017, she bought a school bus, completely renovated it and now takes the bus out to different places for musical field trips. 

She noted the best part is bringing music to kids and giving them another outlet to experience building self-esteem. 

“It makes them really happy to learn different aspects of music. And, it’s really fun. They have a great time,” said Roozeboom smiling.