Tina Robertson has been a resident of Newcastle and a childcare provider here for more than 20 years.
She’s cared for and helped raise area children in both a center environment and a home environment during that time. She has watched many of the children she cared for as they grew up.
Miss Tina, as she is better known, is the owner of Sugarbabies Childcare Inc. The facility was given a five-star rating earlier this year by the Department of Human Services, but Miss Tina is not stopping there. She is also putting together a couple of additional programs, one of which is focused on uplifting girls in the foster care system.
Miss Tina said her facility was given the five-star rating through DHS on January 1.
“As far as I know we are the only five-star home in Newcastle,” she said. The five-star rating through DHS is part of its Quality Rating and Improvement System. Childcare homes and the programs they offer must meet specific guidelines, and the employees at these facilities must also meet specific guidelines and training requirements.
Miss Tina was very proud of meeting the DHS requirements. She added that she is also in the process of trying to get accredited with a five-star rating through the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).
“What makes Sugarbabies different is the quality of care parents receive the whole time they are here,” Miss Tina said. “Parents with children need good providers who are genuinely involved in their child’s care — one that takes time to continue their education and consistently work to put parents at ease while they are away at work.”
She added of utmost im- SUGARBABIES on page 3 portance is that a childcare provider always follows DHS guidelines.
“I will say that childcare is a partnership between the parents and providers. When we work together, your child benefits,” Miss Tina said. “I am a provider of my word. The children are loved and educated, they learn life skills, and they are prepared for Pre-K.”
She said they also are given social skills while being cared for at her Newcastle home, located at 461 N.E. 23rd Street.
“My Sugarbabies are raised more like siblings, and I hope they grow up and take care of each other at school and in life.”
Miss Tina said working with children in the Newcastle area has brought her and her family much joy and happiness.
“I have had the pleasure of meeting three generations of family members with multiple families, and I’ve been attending birthdays, weddings, and graduations, and some of my Sugarbabies have started their families,” Miss Tina said.
She says because of social networking, she can still see many of her children, and she also has several children who come by the house just to say hello.
“I am proud of all the children I have enjoyed spending time with over the past 22 years,” Miss Tina said.
After reflecting on the past, the DHS rating, and all the long work hours she has put into childcare, Miss Tina said she decided it was time to do something new to help give her life even more balance.
She came up with the ideas of a tearoom for children, she calls Royaltea, and also a new program she is putting in place known as Fostering Princesses.
“I am not leaving childcare, but instead adding a tearoom to bring a different kind of joy to our families and to the community,” Miss Tina said.
She said Royaltea is a place to host birthday parties and events or community gatherings involving children.
Robertson said she is in negotiations with the facility’s current owner for Royaltea Tea Room, 2209 S.W. 104th #D, just south of Newcastle. She is working diligently toward fulfilling all requirements. For information about Royaltea, call 405-328-8720 or email okcroyaltea@gmail. com. She is also working on a website at myroyalteaparty. com.
“We would love to provide an elegant room full of young girls all dressed up like princesses or whatever they choose to wear while sitting down in a room filled with beautiful dishes, tea sandwiches, scones, and sweet treats,” Miss Tina said.
Miss Tina said the Fostering Princesses program is only for girls in the foster care system. Each month, two groups of girls ages 4-18 will come to the Royaltea facility and dress up like princesses or glamour girls to forget about unpleasant things going on that may be occurring in their lives — “if only for a little while,” she said.
“The girls will dress in beautiful dresses, have tea parties, and learn etiquette skills,” Miss Tina said. “Before leaving, each child will receive a gift to help them remember their special day.”
Miss Tina said she looks forward to the new programs, and hopes the community will too. She said the new programs will help bring the community together by making a difference in the lives of others.
She also looks back on where she’s been. She has nothing but well wishes for the children who’ve been in her care.
Miss Tina said, “I hope my children, whom I have enjoyed caring for over the years, will always know they were loved and are very special to me.”
