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Ries Ballwin KinderCare

Shannon Fant, Center Director

497 Big Bend Rd Ballwin MO 63021
(636) 527-8280 Contact this center

Ages: 6 weeks to 12 years
Open:

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Elementary Schools Bussed To:
Oak Brook, Sorrento Springs, Wren Hollow, Hanna Woods, Fairway, Ridge Meadows, Ballwin, Woerther

Our center is accredited by NAEYC.

NAEYC Accreditation

Welcome to Ries Ballwin KinderCare

Welcome to Ries Ballwin KinderCare, conveniently located at the corner of Big Bend and Ries Road in Missouri! Our teachers are committed to creating a love of learning that will last a lifetime. Each child is provided with an individualized learning plan to prepare them for success in school and beyond. Every day, our staff works hard to help children develop confidence for life. Everyone belongs in our circle — we love our families and meeting new friends!

Shannon Fant, Our Center Director

Meet Shannon Fant, Our Center Director

At KinderCare Since: 2022

Education: Associate Degree in Arts, Associate Degree in Applied Science, Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Studies

Favorite Children's Book: Rainbow Fish 

Meet Shannon Fant! She is the Center Director at Ries Ballwin KinderCare in Ballwin, MO. Shannon attended Southwestern Illinois College where she earned an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Applied Science. Shannon also attended Ashford University where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Studies and is currently earning a Master of Arts in Elementary Studies from Concordia University. She joined KinderCare this year, and before that she was a center director at another school. Outside of work, Shannon enjoys crafting, cooking, and spending time with her family and pets. Her favorite quote is, "Today I will enjoy the beautiful things in life."

at KinderCare, our accreditation equals excellence. Contact one of our daycares today!

AMERICA’S MOST ACCREDITED

We’re so proud!

Nationally only 10% of daycares are accredited - nearly 100% of our learning centers are. That’s a big difference, and that means KinderCare kids are getting the very best. Here’s why.

Group of children and teacher at a KinderCare daycare center

SCHOOL-READY

What Learning Looks Like

Our talented early-childhood teachers set kids down the path toward becoming lifelong learners in a positive, safe, and nurturing environment.

Ries Ballwin KinderCare Programs

Infant Programs (6 weeks–1 year)

Leaving your baby in someone else’s care is a big step. Everyone at our centers—most importantly, our naturally gifted infant teachers—will work with you to make sure the transition goes smoothly. When you step into our infant classroom, you’ll see how much we want your infant to feel safe, loved, and ready to explore their world.

Toddler Programs (1–2 Years)

Everything in our toddler classroom is designed for little explorers. That’s because a lot is going on at this age. When your child is wandering all over the place, that means they’re learning and discovering new things every day. We’ll help them explore their interests (and find new ones!) as they play and learn.

Discovery Preschool Programs (2–3 Years)

This age is filled with so much wonder and curiosity. That’s why we offer a ton of books and toys and bring artwork down to kids eye level. Children in discovery preschool also begin to learn how we all work together in a classroom. Simple math and science, pretend play, and group play help them get used to a more structured school setting.

Preschool Programs (3–4 Years)

This age is all about expression, when kids really start to form their own ideas about what they want to play and how they want to create. Every day in our preschool classroom, your child will explore science experiments, create artwork, and play pretend—all the skills needed for their big next step: kindergarten!

Prekindergarten Programs (4–5 Years)

When you walk into one of our pre-K classrooms, you’ll see artwork and writing displayed around the room. Labels are everywhere to help kids connect letters with words. You’ll also see pictures on the walls that reflect the families in our community. Your child will also deepen their knowledge in language, math, science, Spanish, and social skills.

Before- and After-School Programs (5–12 Years)

You can count on us to provide reliable care for your school-ager while you’re at work, with safe transportation from our center to your child’s school and back! Whether your child wants to start a drama club, build a volcano, or create a comic book, they will have a place to follow their dreams. Your child will start and end the day with a whole lot of fun!

School Break Programs (preschool, prekindergarten, and school-age)

Winter break, spring break, summer break—when school’s out (but you still need to work), you can count on KinderCare to provide a safe and supportive learning environment that’s focused on fun. We welcome children ages 5–12 during school break times and make sure they have a sensational, screen-free experience they won’t forget.

Participating Child Care Aware Center

KinderCare partners with Child Care Aware® of America to offer fee assistance for Active Duty military families and flexible support to fit their needs when care at a Child Development Center on the installation is not available.

Learning Adventures - Enrichment Program

Cooking Academy™ (3 – 12 Years)

In Cooking Academy, kids learn new recipes from cultures around the world and develop a healthy relationship with food. They’ll whip up everything from Southwest rainbow lettuce wraps to pumpkin muffins, building their skills in STEM, communication, and more along the way. And yes—little chefs get to eat their culinary creations!

Music Explorers™ (2 – 4 Years)

KinderCare families are already giving a standing ovation to our newest Learning Adventures program: Music Explorers! Kids will learn to sing, move, listen, play instruments, and even create their own tunes. Our original curriculum blends math, science, social studies, literacy, and mindfulness (think yoga!) for a uniquely KinderCare way of learning the foundations of music.

Phonics Adventures® (2 – 4 Years)

Learning how to read is a whole lot of fun at KinderCare! We help kids grow to love books and words (and get ready for kindergarten) in our Phonics Adventures program. From discovering the basics of vowels to practicing poetry, kids learn all about letters and sounds in small-group lessons made just for their age group. (Bonus: Kids who attend our phonics program are more prepared than their peers for school—and we have the data to prove it.)

STEM Innovators (3-8 Years)

You’ve probably heard a lot about how important STEM education is for your child, but what does that really mean? Our STEM Innovators program takes kids’ natural ability to make sense of the world and applies it to robotics, chemistry, coding, geology, and more. While your child experiments, they’ll discover how to use technology to do amazing things!

Our Teachers

We're the only company in early childhood education to select teachers based on natural talent. Being a great educator isn't enough though. KinderCare teachers are also amazing listeners, nurturers, boo-boo fixers, and smile-makers. Put more simply, we love our teachers and your child will, too.

Meet just a few of our amazing KinderCare teachers!

Daycare teacher at KinderCare helping young children

A KINDERCARE TEACHER WITH

An Artist's Heart

"My classroom is full of art!” says Mary Annthipie-Bane, an award-winning early childhood educator at KinderCare. Art and creative expression, she says, help children discover who they really are.

teacher with artist educator dedicated teaching with her whole heart
gallup great workplace logo

We put our best-in-class teachers in a best-in-class workplace. We're so proud to have been named one of Gallup's 37 winners of the Great Workplace Award. When you put great teachers in an engaging center, your children will experience an amazing place to learn and grow.

Family Stories

Don't take our word for it. Hear what our families have to say about our amazing center!

  • My name is Tisha. My husband, Rick and I, have our five-year-old son old enrolled into the Ballwin (Big Bend and Reis Road) KinderCare Prekindergarten program. Being new to the area, we really had no direction as to which Prekindergarten program to place him in. We went to multiple locations and had decided that we were going to place him into Goddard. My  husband and I were heading to Goddard to submit our son for enrollment but I remembered that there was a KinderCare down the street that we had never toured. I contacted this KinderCare facility, where I had the great pleasure of speaking to Keith Sherry. Keith was exceptional and invited us to tour. Walking into this facility was wonderful and inviting! We were greeted with music as we entered, a security system for child/employee safety, cleanliness, and laughter. The facility smelled great as well! We were taken from room to room and were given precise details as to how the classrooms were tailored to prepare for school readiness. We were also informed of all of the different breakout classes that were available. We were introduced to staff members. We were able to witness some teachers on the floor playing with children with others teaching a lesson plan or reading to their classroom. The children and staff were very engaged with one another. Keith Sherry was also a very big part of the classrooms. He knew every single child's name as well as the name of parents who were picking their children up for the day. Children would run over and hug him, give him a high five, and talk to him. This was very impressive to both my husband and I. Goddard or any other child care facility was not even a question for where we knew our son should attend. We signed him up with Keith immediately. We have been with KinderCare for many months now and we still are as happy as it now as we were then! We felt then and still feel now that it is the best decision that we made for our son. It's very comforting to know that my husband or I could arrive at any given part of the day and Keith Sherry is participating in the classrooms with the children. My son absolutely loves him! Keith is kind, compassionate, and hands-down fantastic at his job! Our son will begin kindergarten in August. Although we live right behind the school that he will be attending (and they provide after-school care), there is no question as to where we will chose to continue his care. He has learned so much since beginning the KinderCare Prekindergarten program. His teachers, the Lori's, are patient and caring. They provide a direction and order to this class and have their attention. Our son comes home telling me about the exciting things that the Lori's have taught him. We are able to see his work and progress. These are very exciting things to see and it is always interesting to see the creative ideas that these ladies have these kids going! We absolutely adore the Lori's! Thank you for having such wonderful people in your Ballwin KinderCare. You have exceptional people supporting this program. It comforting to know that when I leave my child there, he continues to learn and develop among people who love and care for him and honestly want him to be all that he can be. The center is still as clean and orderly as when we initially toured it. I would recommend anyone to this KinderCare and appreciate the dedication that is provided from this great group of people. 

    Tisha C. - KinderCare Parent
  • Ries Ballwin KinderCare has been great. We were at a center that had closed and we relocated here and wow! The teachers are great and the Director, Mr. Keith, is wonderful. The teachers are always doing new and exciting things for the children. Walking down the hall to pick my girls up is a real treat because i get to see every room doing something neat and all the children seem happy. I really love all the extra things--like parent week, trunk or treat, and the nice family events that take place!

    Heather S. - KinderCare Parent
  • I love bringing my children to Ries Ballwin KinderCare. The teachers are so friendly and welcoming. Both of my girls have learned so much and they are always excited to come to school. Their teachers keep me well-informed of their day-to-day activities. I've watched my children grow academically since they started at KinderCare.

    Kelley - KinderCare Parent
  • I could not ask for a friendlier group--always smiling and considerate! They foster our children, take them on learning adventures, ensure their safety, and adore them unconditionally. The impact they have is forever and for that, I'm grateful my family is surrounded by this KinderCare team.

    Dana K. - KinderCare Parent
  • Although I knew the staff here is great, I was still hesitant to put our baby in daycare as a newborn. I suppose it was due to the unknown, and never having done this before. It was tough trusting a group of people with our newborn baby who had only been with my wife for the first month of her life. Leah gave us a tour, which we really appreciated because we had all the same questions I’m sure most other parents do while touring. Although we knew the facility and staff was great, we (mainly me) learned a lot about the company, its goals and methods, and found it all very helpful. I was also introduced to Cathy and Raven, two of my daughter's teachers, and they made me confident that we were making the right decision and that our daughter would be in great hands. As we went in for her first day of class, we were still nervous and anxious, as we did not know what to expect and how our daughter would adapt. I could not have been any happier with how it all panned out. I got her daily sheet filled out by Nancy at the end of the day and it brought a smile to my face. It was very thorough and informative. Little comments such as “I got to feel sandpaper because we were learning about textures,” just absolutely made my day. Today marks our fourth day of class and I am already at ease and so happy that we chose to enroll our daughter at the center. The transition has been flawless and we can already see a difference in our daughter at home, which I am confident is in part due to her experiences at Ries Ballwin KinderCare.

    Mike A. - KinderCare Parent
  • What we enjoy most about Ries Ballwin KinderCare is the enduring relationships Over the years, our four-year old has formed some of the most enduring relationships with fellow classmates, former teachers, and current teachers. Our daughter still talks fondly of fellow classmates she bonded with during her days spent in the Infant and Toddler Classrooms. Although those classmates have long since left KinderCare, the memories endure. We enjoy hearing our daughter's current classmates call out her name excitedly as she enters her classroom each morning! In addition, the KinderCare curriculum has prepared her well for her introduction into kindergarten this fall.

    The K. Family - KinderCare Parent
  • I have been more than happy with Ries Ballwin KinderCare--both with the caring, competent staff and with the facility itself. It is bright, cheery, and buzzing with activity at all times. The staff plans lots of unique activities; they have the best Halloween party in the neighborhood!

    Ann P. - KinderCare Parent
  • My child has been enrolled at Ries Ballwin KinderCare since April of 2011. We have primarily relied on KinderCare to help our son grow, develop social skills, and prepare him for preschool. Recently, at a two-year-old check-up when filling out the developmental milestones, I was amazed at how my son not only reached all required milestones listed on the physician's form, but some for the next age group as well! Thank you, KinderCare.

    Kristopher - KinderCare Parent
  • Our son has attended Ries Ballwin KinderCare for the past year and a half, since he was only 12 weeks old. Throughout this time, the staff has been amazing and has made the daycare setting a second home for our baby to learn and grow. We love hearing and receiving the daily reports of events and activities, and observing our son grow in all areas of learning. KinderCare has done a great job of introducing activities that will increase social, cognitive, emotional, and physical growth by using music, books, sensory play, social play, art projects, movement activities, and many more. The teachers here have really built a bond with our son and we are confident that he is safe and happy every day of the week, thanks to the wonderful staff and Directors!

    Carra B. - KinderCare Parent
  • My husband and I want to extend our deepest gratitude to the staff at Ries Ballwin KinderCare, whom we have been acquainted with for several years. Our two youngest children have special needs, which require many therapies, medical equipment, and medications. The KinderCare staff has always shown genuine care and interest in their progress. Without my knowledge, the staff even stayed late one evening to rearrange the classroom setting to better accommodate my daughter's wheelchair. How reassured we are to leave our children with such devoted caretakers!

    Rebecca - KinderCare Parent
  • My daughter has been going to Ries Ballwin KinderCare for the past five years. I have so many wonderful things to say about her experience. Number one, I couldn't have asked for a more caring and loving environment for her. The whole staff is always friendly and they are more like a family to us than just a daycare. My daughter has a lot of allergies and she suffers from asthma. Being a mother of a child who suffers from these issues, I am always worried about what she might eat or even breathe in. But with the staff at KinderCare, I have never had to worry. They are so thoughtful and they care for her just as I do. And if there was ever an issue of anything that was being given to her to eat or even if there are times that they have a pet in the class, they would always call me just to verify if it is alright for her. They definitely go above and beyond my expectations, and I couldn't ask for anything more. If anyone ever asks me where I take my daughter for child care, I proudly say KinderCare. They are more than just a daycare, it's a place where your child can grow and excel, a place where they are loved, and a place where they can play and just be themselves.

    Heidi J. - KinderCare Parent

Share Your Story
If you have a story about your experience at KinderCare, please share your story with us .

Who Are KinderCare Families?

They hail from hundreds of cities across the country from countless backgrounds, and proudly represent every walk in life. What our families have in common, though, is the want to give their children the best start in life. We are so proud to be their partner in parenting.

Hear from just a few of our amazing KinderCare families.

Young family ready to go to their local KinderCare daycare center

A Globe-Trotting Family Finds A

Home in Houston

Four young children, four different passports, two languages, two full-time jobs…oh, and a few triathlons thrown in for good measure. Meet the globe-trotting Colettas—a family on the go.

home in houston inspiration family puts love first family busy with capital

Frequently Asked Questions

What accreditations does KinderCare have?

We are your trusted caregiver. Our centers are state-licensed and regularly inspected to make sure everything meets or exceeds standards, including child-to-teacher ratios and safe facilities. Our centers aren’t just licensed—most are accredited, too! Find out more.

Do you offer part-time schedules at Ries Ballwin KinderCare?

Everybody’s schedule is different. We’re happy to offer quality, affordable part-time and full-time childcare. Drop-in care may also be available. Reach out to your Center Director to learn more.

How does naptime work at Ries Ballwin KinderCare?

Our teachers meet every child’s needs during naptime. Our teachers know how to get babies to nap. In fact, they are pros at getting children of any age to nap. Visit our article on "10 Ways We Help Kids Get a Great Daycare Nap" to learn more.

Do you support alternative diets?

We strive to be as inclusive as possible. To that point, we provide a vegetarian option at mealtime, take care to not serve common allergens and can adapt menus based on your child’s food sensitivities. If your child has additional needs, we’ll work with you to figure out a plan.

Are meals included in tuition? Can I choose to send my child with lunch?

We provide nutritious meals and snacks developed by a registered dietician to meet the needs of rapidly growing bodies and minds. If your child has special dietary requirements and you would prefer to bring in their lunch, please make arrangements with the center director.

Does my child need to be potty-trained?

Every child begins toilet learning at a different age. Until your child shows an interest in toilet learning, we’ll provide diaper changes on an as-needed basis. When your child shows an interest, we'll discuss how to work together to encourage toilet learning.