Any daycare workers? Need Christmas gift ideas

[lecach]

DS is in a new class at daycare - the pre-toddler class. I dont really know any of his teachers well yet. There are 3 main teachers and various subs. Since they all take care of him at some point I dont want to leave anyone out. Should I get individual gifts or a group gift? If I get individual there is no way to know what subs to give gifts to. I could get the main teachers each something and then get a fruit basket or something like that for all of them to share. Any suggestions? If you are - or have been - a daycare worker, what gifts did you like to get? I had thought of Target gift cards, or a Domino's pizza gift certificate that they could all share.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

When I use to work at a daycare, I loved to get candles. I also use to get starbucks gift certificates and that parent also would bring us Starbucks at random times (she was our favorite!!!) Another parent would bring us gift certificates to the mall or to McDonalds that was in the same parking lot. I enjoyed getting homemade ornaments from the kids too.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I have worked i na day care for the last 3 years..i did appreciate the gift certificates to various places i have been given. I know the girls that work in the baby room usually get group gifts because there are 7 or so girls that are in there throughout the day---for holidays, alot of parents will take turns ordering in lunches for them...

i think anything is nice--its nice to be appreciated!!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

for the past couple years I been getting the kids daycare providers Target or Jewel/Osco (Albertson) gift cards; also, I don't wait until the last day of school to give it to them; I usually give them about a week to 10 days prior to our last day so they can use the cards for the holiday. They don't get paid that well and if they want to re-gift my gift, its totally their perogative. It if helps them - well I'm happy.

 

[icebrat001]

Maybe not a gift to share. I work at a pre-school, a small one, it's the director and 4 teachers and I'll tell ya, we don't even want to share space yet alone a gift, the director would probably take it anyway.

Maybe a small giftcard to starbucks or jamba juice.

 

[Blondy876]

For my dd daycare I am getting the lead teacher (she is the one that is with Teagan the most) a small gift certificate + I am getting a Mrs. Fields gift basket for eveyone (there are about 5 other aides).

 

[luvmyfam444]

I wouldn't worry about the subs...chances aren't they haven't been in his room THAT much & will they be there when you go to give the gifts? When I was a sub I was only @ work the days I was called in -so if I wasn't in the 2yo room I dind't see those kids/mom @ all.

As far as a gift - everyone loves edible gifts. I would make someplates of goodies for everyone to share - the basics, choc chip cookies, brownies & then some "Fancy" stuff fudge, truffles,etc. That way everyone is covered & if the subs are there they can enjoy it too. OR you can do a combo of both - goodies for the sub & giftcard for the teacher -but it get so expensive w/3 teachers! Targert giftcards are my vote 'cause ther's something for everyone there. The other thing would be for you to handmake a gift---I've made soaps this year & I"m addicted! SO everyone I know will get some soaps!

 

[lecach]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. I am leaning toward Target giftcards for the main teachers. I should have described the subs better. These are more like permanent subs - really they are floaters that go wherever they are needed for the ratios. There are several that I see most days. One in particular holds my son whenever he is fussy. I know they dont make much (even if we do pay $187 a week!). So I want to do something. Are baked goods better than a fruit basket? What about some muffins from Sams Club (they are HUGE) and a small fruit basket? Because most people will probably take cookies and fudge and that kind of thing.

 

[bananiem]

I preferred baked goods to fruit, but that was my own preference. My favorite thing was gift certificates to the local teacher supply store. When my kids were in preschool (and I wasn't working anymore) I gave the teachers a book with a corresponding puppet. (The Grouchy Ladybug and a ladybug puppet, for example.) One year the room moms called everybody and did a group gift. It turned out to be almost $200 EACH to a local nice department store. The teachers loved it because they didn't usually get to shop there on their salary.

 

[Maleficent13]

I love this thread...I've been wondering what to get my teachers too.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd is a teacher in the toddler room at her preschool/daycare center. She also floated for awhile. Since she has been there for a number of years, certain parents would always give her a very nice Christmas gift, even if she was just 'floating' that year. But, the things she likes most are gift cards (especially Target), movie passes, cash (which she would get from her 'regular' parents). The thing that I always got my youngest dd's teachers were thank-you note cards/stamps. I got two boxes of 12 for each teacher. They told me those were their favorite gift...certainly came in handy after the holidays!!

 

[minkydog]

Here's a few of my favorites:

1 Blockbuster gift card
1 pkg microwave popcorn
2 candy bars
2 cokes

Put it all in a bag and voila! Movie night!

Or You can buy a large Hershey bar or other large candy(raisinets, malted milk balls, jujus) and tape a couple movie tickets to the candy box.


Or(this makes up real pretty) Take a Christmas card and hole-punch it on three sides. String it with thin red ribbon so you have a small container(the top will be open. Fill the card with small candies and place a gift card inside to your favorite store or restaurant. This gift can really be as expensive or inexpensive as your budget dictates.


Or give a gift certificate for a manicure or pedicure from a local nail salon. Nothing says appreciation like a little personal pampering!