In the heart of Riverside County, where the rich cultural tapestry of California truly comes alive, Sierra Preschool stands as a beacon of inclusive early childhood education. Serving families in

Riverside

,

La Sierra

, and

Corona

, we don’t just acknowledge diversity we celebrate it daily, weaving it into the very fabric of our educational philosophy and classroom experiences.

Why Diversity Matters in Early Childhood Education

The preschool years are critical for forming attitudes about differences, building empathy, and developing social awareness. When young children learn in diverse environments, research shows they:

• Develop stronger problem-solving skills by encountering multiple perspectives
• Build cultural competency that serves them throughout life
• Demonstrate reduced bias and increased acceptance
• Prepare for success in our increasingly interconnected world
• Form friendships across cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic boundaries

At our

preschool in Riverside

, we recognize that diversity education isn’t a special curriculum; it’s woven into everything we do, from morning circle time to afternoon snack, from art projects to outdoor play.

The Beautiful Diversity of Riverside County

The communities we serve

Riverside

,

La Sierra

, and

Corona

are wonderfully diverse. Riverside County is home to families from countless cultural backgrounds, speaking dozens of languages, and representing traditions from around the globe. This diversity isn’t a challenge to manage; it’s a treasure to celebrate.

Our Community Demographics

Families attending our

Riverside preschool

and

preschool in Corona

come from:

• Hispanic/Latino heritage (the largest demographic group)
• Asian American families representing Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Indian, and other cultures
• White/Caucasian families with diverse European ancestries
• African American families contributing rich cultural traditions
• Multiracial families blending multiple heritages

Our Montessori in Riverside approach recognizes that every child brings unique cultural wealth to the classroom and we honor that through intentional, thoughtful practices.

How We Celebrate Diversity Daily

Multilingual Environment

Language is more than communication; it’s a window into culture, thought, and identity. At Sierra Preschool, we:

Honor Home Languages

• Encourage families to maintain their first language at home
• Learn key phrases in children’s home languages (greetings, comfort words, family terms)
• Display welcome signs and classroom labels in multiple languages
• Celebrate when children share words from their home language with peers

Support English Language Learners

• Use visual supports, gestures, and context clues to make English accessible
• Pair emerging bilingual children with supportive peers
• Recognize that bilingualism is an asset, not a deficit
• Communicate with families in their preferred language whenever possible

Create Language-Rich Experiences Children at our Riverside Montessori programs hear songs, stories, and rhymes from many cultures, building phonemic awareness while celebrating linguistic diversity.

Culturally Responsive Curriculum

Walk into any classroom at our preschool Corona location or throughout our Riverside area programs, and you’ll immediately notice our commitment to representation:

Diverse Books and Materials Our classroom libraries feature:

• Stories with characters of different races, ethnicities, family structures, and abilities
• Folktales and traditional stories from cultures worldwide
• Bilingual books representing languages spoken in our community
• Books that show everyday diversity, not just “special” multicultural titles

Inclusive Dramatic Play Our dramatic play areas rotate to reflect different cultures:

• Various cultural cooking implements and play foods
• Clothing items from different traditions
• Dolls and figures representing diverse races, abilities, and ages
• Household items that reflect varied cultural practices

Art from Around the World Children explore artistic traditions from many cultures:

• Mexican papel picado
• Japanese origami
• African masks and textiles
• Native American pottery techniques
• Chinese calligraphy
• And countless other traditions and holidays

Family Partnerships and Cultural Sharing

Families are our partners in diversity education. At our preschool in Riverside, we actively invite families to:

Share Their Cultures

• Visit the classroom to share traditional foods, stories, music, or celebrations
• Provide recipes or artifacts that help other families learn about their heritage
• Teach simple words or phrases in their home language
• Share photos and stories about cultural traditions

Celebrate Family Structures We honor the beautiful variety of family configurations:

• Single-parent families
• Two-parent families
• Multigenerational households common in our La Sierra community
• Foster and adoptive families
• Families headed by grandparents
• LGBTQ+ families
• Blended families

Our curriculum materials, celebrations, and language intentionally reflect this diversity.

Cultural Celebrations Throughout the Year

Rather than just celebrating mainstream holidays, our Montessori Riverside programs honor a wide variety of cultural celebrations:

• Lunar New Year (celebrated by many Asian cultures)
• Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
• Diwali (Festival of Lights)
• Kwanzaa
• Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
• Hanukkah, Christmas, and Three Kings Day
• Indigenous Peoples’ Day
• And many others suggested by our families

We approach these celebrations authentically, often with family participation, ensuring we represent traditions accurately and respectfully.

The Montessori Approach to Diversity

Our Montessori in Riverside philosophy naturally aligns with diversity education:

Peace Education

Montessori education emphasizes peace, conflict resolution, and global citizenship. We teach children:

• To resolve conflicts using words rather than actions
• That differences make our community stronger
• To recognize our common humanity across cultures
• To appreciate rather than fear what’s unfamiliar

Cultural Studies

Even in preschool, Montessori introduces geography and cultural studies:

• Puzzle maps showing continents and countries
• Photos and artifacts from different cultures
• Music and musical instruments from around the world
• Stories about children from different countries and communities

Practical Life Activities

Montessori practical life activities naturally incorporate diverse cultural practices:

• Different utensils and eating practices (chopsticks, hands, various serving tools)
• Food preparation from multiple cuisines
• Clothing fasteners from different cultural garments
• Greeting practices from various cultures

Respect for the Individual

Core to Montessori philosophy is respecting each child as a unique individual. This principle extends to honoring each child’s:

• Cultural background and family traditions
• Home language and communication style
• Individual learning pace and style
• Unique interests and strengths
• Family’s values and beliefs (within a framework of mutual respect)

Addressing Bias and Building Inclusive Communities

Creating truly inclusive environments requires more than good intentions. At our preschool Riverside programs, we actively work to:

Prevent and Address Bias

Young children notice differences and sometimes make hurtful comments, not from malice but from curiosity or learned attitudes. When this happens, we:

• Respond calmly and immediately
• Provide accurate, age-appropriate information
• Help children recognize their common humanity
• Involve families when appropriate
• Use these moments as teaching opportunities

Examine Our Own Biases

Our teaching staff regularly engages in professional development around:

• Recognizing our own cultural lenses and biases
• Understanding how privilege and marginalization affect children’s experiences
• Creating more equitable classroom practices
• Communicating effectively across cultural differences

Create Truly Equitable Practices

We examine our practices to ensure all children and families:

• Feel genuinely welcomed and valued
• See themselves reflected in materials and activities
• Have equal opportunities to participate and lead
• Have their needs met, recognizing that equity sometimes means different support for different children

Real Stories: Diversity in Action

Here’s what diversity celebration looks like in our preschool Corona and Riverside classrooms:

Morning Circle Time Children greet each other in multiple languages. We might sing “Hello” in English, “Hola” in Spanish, “??” (N? h?o) in Mandarin, “Kumusta” in Tagalog, and “Namaste” in Hindi reflecting languages spoken in our community.

Cooking Projects When we make tortillas, a parent might join us to share family traditions. When we prepare spring rolls, another family demonstrates proper technique. Children learn that there are countless delicious foods not just the ones familiar from home.

Music and Movement Our music collection includes:

• Traditional Mexican mariachi and ranchera
• African drumming circles
• Classical music from European composers
• Asian folk songs
• Native American chants
• Contemporary music from diverse artists

Art Gallery Children’s artwork hangs alongside images of diverse artists showing that creativity comes in countless forms from every culture.

Classroom Pets and Garden Even our outdoor spaces celebrate diversity! We discuss how people in different climates grow different plants, and we might grow vegetables common in various cuisines.

Benefits We See Every Day

The benefits of our diversity-focused approach are evident in our Riverside Montessori classrooms:

• Enhanced Empathy Children naturally develop perspective-taking skills when regularly exposed to different viewpoints and experiences.
• Creative Problem-Solving When children see that there are multiple ways to accomplish tasks (different eating utensils, various greeting customs, diverse artistic techniques), they become more flexible thinkers.
• Language Development Exposure to multiple languages, even casually, benefits all children’s language development and phonemic awareness.
• Cultural Pride Children from minoritized backgrounds develop stronger self-esteem when their cultures are valued and celebrated, not just tolerated.
• Reduced Prejudice Research consistently shows that children who have positive interactions with diverse peers in early childhood show less prejudice as they grow.
• Family Connection When families see their cultures reflected and celebrated, they feel more connected to the school community and more involved in their children’s education.

Supporting Families in Diversity Education

We know that diversity education doesn’t end at pickup time. We support families by:

Providing Resources

• Book lists featuring diverse characters and authors
• Information about cultural events in Riverside, La Sierra, and Corona
• Tips for discussing differences with young children
• Resources for maintaining home languages

Creating Community Connections

• Family events that bring our diverse community together
• Opportunities for families to connect across cultural differences
• Parent education workshops on relevant topics

Maintaining Open Communication

• Regular updates about what children are learning
• Invitations for family participation
• Open-door policy for questions or concerns
• Respect for families’ cultural values and practices

The Riverside, La Sierra, and Corona Advantage

Our location in Riverside County provides unique advantages for diversity education:

Rich Cultural Resources Our area offers:

• Diverse restaurants representing global cuisines
• Cultural festivals and celebrations throughout the year
• Museums and cultural centers
• Community organizations representing various heritage groups

Authentic Experiences Because our preschool in Riverside serves truly diverse families, children’s experiences with diversity feel natural and authentic, not forced or tokenistic. Children don’t just learn about diversity they live it daily.

Community Connections Our relationships with families allow us to learn about authentic cultural practices, celebrations, and traditions, which we can then share with the entire community.

What Parents Say

Families who choose our Corona preschool and Riverside area programs frequently tell us:

“My daughter has learned so much about respecting differences. She’s curious about other cultures and proud of her own heritage.”

“As an immigrant family, it means so much that our traditions are celebrated here, not just tolerated. Our son sees himself in the classroom materials.”

“I love that my children are growing up seeing diversity as normal and wonderful. This will serve them throughout their lives.”

“The teachers genuinely care about understanding and honoring our family’s culture. We feel seen and valued.”

Looking Forward to: Preparing Global Citizens

In our increasingly interconnected world, the ability to work, communicate, and build relationships across differences isn’t optional, it’s essential. By starting this education in preschool, at our Montessori in Riverside and Corona programs, we’re preparing children for:

• Success in diverse educational settings
• Careers in global economies
• Meaningful relationships across cultural boundaries
• Active participation in democratic, pluralistic society
• Leadership roles in an interconnected world

Join Our Diverse Community

At Sierra Preschool, serving Riverside, La Sierra, and Corona, we believe that diversity isn’t something to simply manage or accommodate it’s a tremendous asset that makes our learning community richer, stronger, and more vibrant.

Whether you’re searching for a “preschool Riverside” program that honors your family’s heritage, a “Montessori Riverside” approach that celebrates individuality, or a “preschool in Corona” that prepares your child for our diverse world, we invite you to visit Sierra Preschool.

Come see our classrooms where children of all backgrounds learn, play, and grow together. Meet our dedicated teachers who view every child’s unique background as a gift. Experience a community where differences are celebrated, curiosity is encouraged, and every family truly belongs.

Our Commitment

We commit to:

• Continuously learning and improving our diversity practices
• Listening to families’ voices and experiences
• Creating spaces where every child can thrive
• Modeling respect, empathy, and cultural humility
• Preparing children to be compassionate, globally minded citizens

Diversity isn’t a program at Sierra Preschool, it’s who we are. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sierra Preschool
Website: https://sierrapreschool.com/
Now Serving the Cities of Riverside, La Sierra, and Corona