Covid-Cautious Childcare
Parent Q&A
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Daycare with High Quality Air Filters?
–Jun 18, 2025I am looking to enroll my 13 month old in daycare (and eventually preschool) and am wondering if covid safe childcare and educational facilities even exist. I know I could minimize our exposure with a nanny or nannyshare but my child is very social and I know I can't shelter her from school like facilities forever.
(Please don't reply if you just want to tell me that ongoing covid reinfection is inevitable and I need to get over it. I have done too much reading and know that each reinfection gives a child a higher chance of developing some type of long covid. I don't want to debate the risk of covid & long covid, just looking for information on any daycares or preschools that take science backed safety measures.)
Specifically I am wondering if anyone knows of any daycares or preschools that have high quality air purifiers always running in each room and/or still test for covid during biannual spikes. I am also looking for places that have a big, well ventilated outside area. Not just for covid safety but because my child loves to play outdoors. Or if you know of any provider that would be open to using high quality filters continuously if I were to donate them. I have looked into forest school but I haven't found any for children under 2.
I am in El Cerrito but and willing to go somewhat far for the right facility. Any leads are appreciated.
Jun 18, 2025Reply now »
The daycares in El Cerrito that our kids attended maintained air filtration during Covid, but I don't know if they have continued to do this. Check out The Good Earth School, which--at least previously--had filters in every room, had pretty stringent covid testing policies, and has a significant outdoor program.
Thank you for posting about this, I second your concerns about infection/reinfection and long covid. My daughter has a nanny right now and they interact with other children at the park outside every day which is wonderful, but I know we'll want to start preschool when she is closer to 2. I would love to know about some covid-conscious preschools!
My family also continues to be COVID cautious. My kid attends Monteverde in Berkeley (Elmwood District), and they have good air purifiers running in each room. Plus, they keep doors and windows open all year (unless there is really bad AQI). They don't test for Covid, but if a child/family has a known exposure, they are required to test for three days.
The teachers are very supportive of masking, and one masks all year round. A few will mask in the winter, and most will mask if they aren't feeling well. It's not perfect, but my kid masks well, and overall there seems to be less Covid spread within the school. The only thing is Monteverde is a preschool, and kids must be 2 years and 9 months in order to attend.
I'm happy to answer more questions if you have them!
Hi, I cannot speak specifically to the air purifier aspect because we did not tour in person but Prescious Treasures in the Richmond hills near El Cerrito seemed to have a very thorough approach about COVID (we talked over zoom for an introduction to learn more about the daycare). She seemed to still be requiring regular COVID testing based on what she explained to us. We didn't end up pursuing touring in person since it didn't quite feel like the right fit for us for other unrelated reasons.