Richmond Heights, CA
Inclusion
We are...
...first generation to the United States
...a San Francisco native
...a world traveler since a very young age
We also grew up with 11 languages. Since many children do better when their home language is spoken, we incorporate home languages into our care and education as well. So far, we have included Chinese, German, Tagalog, Spanish, Vietnamese, and American Sign Language (ASL) into our curriculum and are always happy to add more.
So, of course we welcome everyone to our home. We've had parents share their culture, food, dance, music, customs, language, and so much more! Everything shared is of benefit to every child and broadens our understanding and acceptance of ourselves and others.
On October 14, 2023, we presented at the 29th Annual Early Learning Conference sponsored by CocoKids (Contra Costa County's resource and referral agency). They asked us to speak about inclusion in family and center-based child cares because they are having a difficult time placing children with special needs into child care programs. Since we have many years of experience with children with special needs (e.g.: downs syndrome, ADD/ADHD, g-tube, preemie, speech issues, etc.), we were happy to do the presentation.
Precious Treasures has always been an inclusive home and child care. We are all human beings here.
Diversity
Precious Treasures cares for and educates children, as individuals and as people. We know every person comes as a variety box and we take each child's needs into consideration, but we don't judge or make any one item the sum of any child.
Lately, I've received a lot of inquiries about my race, nationality, religion, and other personal background items. Please note...
1. You would be highly offended if I asked those items of you
2. Such questions are illegal to ask anyone in an employment setting
3. Those items have nothing to do with my ability to do my job.
Just as I focus on each child, I need each family to focus on what I offer and what I can do for them rather than on the color of my skin or where my family comes from.
Thank you.
Continuing COVID/Infectious Disease Response
During COVID, schools closed, child care centers closed, non-essential businesses closed, and governmental agencies closed. Family child care providers were the only educators to remain open, putting our own health and that of our families at risk, so parents could continue to work. Family Child Care Educators are the workforce behind the workforce.
COVID is still running rampant along with HMPV, RSV, and flu, which mimic COVID, making diagnosis difficult. Additionally, bird flu, measles, polio, and TB are making comebacks because of low vaccination rates and norovirus is on the rise because of general apathy around good hygiene and proper disinfection. Parents want fewer restrictions but still want their children to remain safe and healthy. So, we will continue to take the following precautions...
...We continue to disinfect both inside our facility as well as everywhere we go
...We continue to mask when outside of our facility -- we use an N95 filtration system and a full wraparound face mask
Our track record speaks for itself -- Precious Treasures has remained COVID-free because of our safety measures.
For more information about COVID and other illnesses, please visit CDC.gov and CCHealth.org.
If you'd like to see data on how COVID affected child care, I suggest reading "A State-by-State Look at Child Care in Crisis: Understanding Early Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic" published by the National Association for the Education of Young Children state_by_state_child_care_crisis_coronavirus_surveydata.pdf (naeyc.org).
Be safe and stay well.