Do You Tip Your Daycare Teacher(s)?

[summerrluvv]

Just curious! People do here and I'm not sure if it's just a LI thing because I had never heard of tipping the daycare workers until recently. I've given Christmas gifts, but never have tipped.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Oops, I voted but I read the question wrong.

DS was in a private daycare when he was very young, and at Christmas I gave his provider an extra payment. Once he got to preschool, the teachers got gifts as opposed to money.

 

[Beth76]

I'm not sure what you mean by tip? Are you talking about giving them $5 every time you pick your kid up or what? I used to work in daycare and I never received tips. We would get xmas gifts and sometimes parents would be nice and bring in donuts or bagels for all the teachers, but no cash ever changed hands. I would find that kind of insulting. Like "here take better care of my child."

 

[javaj]

I never give cash, but I give intermittent thank you gift cards or candy or other things. For instance, on Valentine's, I usually will do a $10 gift card per teacher (2 teachers in the toddler room, 2 teachers in the kindergarten room) and some Valentine's candy. For Halloween, maybe some halloween cupcakes and a $10 gift card. And when we come back from WDW, we usually bring Disney candy or some other souvenir.

I usually do Valentine's, Easter's, 4th of July, Halloween, then at Christmas I get a bigger gift card, about $30 per teacher.

Also, when the kids move rooms (i.e. infant room to toddler room), I give a thank you card with a gift card.

I've done this since our first DS was in day care at 8 weeks old. I'm not saying other parents should do the same, I just really want these teachers to know that I appreciate what they do for my kiddos. We pay a fortune on weekly tuition, but I know the teachers don't get most of that.

 

[Camicar]

I viewed my dd's day care provider/preschool teachers as professionals. Being a professional myself, I would have found a tip to be insulting. Therefore I gave them very nice gifts for the holidays and their birthdays (stuff I knew they wanted but could not/would not buy for themselves), but no cash.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I never give cash, but I give intermittent thank you gift cards or candy or other things. For instance, on Valentine's, I usually will do a $10 gift card per teacher (2 teachers in the toddler room, 2 teachers in the kindergarten room) and some Valentine's candy. For Halloween, maybe some halloween cupcakes and a $10 gift card. And when we come back from WDW, we usually bring Disney candy or some other souvenir.

I usually do Valentine's, Easter's, 4th of July, Halloween, then at Christmas I get a bigger gift card, about $30 per teacher.

Also, when the kids move rooms (i.e. infant room to toddler room), I give a thank you card with a gift card.

I've done this since our first DS was in day care at 8 weeks old. I'm not saying other parents should do the same, I just really want these teachers to know that I appreciate what they do for my kiddos. We pay a fortune on weekly tuition, but I know the teachers don't get most of that.

I work at a day care center---Alot of our parents give gifts, gift cards, etc like you mentioned..we never expect it, but it is appreciated!

A few weeks ago, t was my last day--i was takng a couple of weeks for family situations--many of my families brought me some gifts and thank you notes....very sweet

 

[summerrluvv]

I'm not sure what you mean by tip? Are you talking about giving them $5 every time you pick your kid up or what? I used to work in daycare and I never received tips. We would get xmas gifts and sometimes parents would be nice and bring in donuts or bagels for all the teachers, but no cash ever changed hands. I would find that kind of insulting. Like "here take better care of my child."

For holidays or moving up day I guess. I'm just as confused to be honest! Someone I know from a local board works at the daycare center that DD will be attending and she said her staff appreciates cash and she did also when she was a teacher. Also around here they tip for day camp. I just didn't know if that was the norm.

 

[summerrluvv]

I never give cash, but I give intermittent thank you gift cards or candy or other things. For instance, on Valentine's, I usually will do a $10 gift card per teacher (2 teachers in the toddler room, 2 teachers in the kindergarten room) and some Valentine's candy. For Halloween, maybe some halloween cupcakes and a $10 gift card. And when we come back from WDW, we usually bring Disney candy or some other souvenir.

I usually do Valentine's, Easter's, 4th of July, Halloween, then at Christmas I get a bigger gift card, about $30 per teacher.

Also, when the kids move rooms (i.e. infant room to toddler room), I give a thank you card with a gift card.

I've done this since our first DS was in day care at 8 weeks old. I'm not saying other parents should do the same, I just really want these teachers to know that I appreciate what they do for my kiddos. We pay a fortune on weekly tuition, but I know the teachers don't get most of that.

Oh yes, we have always done the holiday thing since DS was back in daycare many moons ago and now for grade school. It's always been a GC, a gift or a thank you card at the end of the year though, never cash.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I work in early childcare, with infants. I have received gifts at Christmas. Some people give cash, some give gift cards, some give a gift. Not everyone gives though, that is an individual choice. I always appreciate it, but don't expect it. I have also received thank you gifts when a child has moved up into the toddler room.

I have never gotten a tip, and frankly I would be embarrassed and would refuse to take it.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

Hmm, I've never heard of that one. DD's daycare providers do an awesome job and I show my appreciation with little gifts throughout the year.

 

[Beth76]

Someone I know from a local board works at the daycare center that DD will be attending and she said her staff appreciates cash and she did also when she was a teacher.

I would totally be finding a different place to send my child. So this is the director that was saying this? That her staff "appreciates cash"?!?!?! Thank you gifts, holiday gifts, that's one thing. But just cash for doing a good job, uh uh. Sounds like you have to pay them off in order to have them take good care of your child. I don't even think we would have been allowed to accept anything like that.

 

[slo]

I don't tip my girls daycare teachers

It's not somthing that's done at my daycare.

 

[java]

Ok as someone born and raised on LI I can say this with all love in my heart. There is nothing on LI that is like it is in the rest of the country. The things that are important there are not elsewhere. When I moved just one state over- to NJ my eyes were opened. And the funny thing, most of my friends are from LI now. We gravitate towards each other I guess. We get it.

And I wouldn't tip teachers- but gifting (and by gifting I mean gift card to Target or the like) at holidays and year end- moving up time. But if I was on LI I would be tipping the teachers, the director and buying some cannoli for the janitor.

 

[summerrluvv]

Ok as someone born and raised on LI I can say this with all love in my heart. There is nothing on LI that is like it is in the rest of the country. The things that are important there are not elsewhere. When I moved just one state over- to NJ my eyes were opened. And the funny thing, most of my friends are from LI now. We gravitate towards each other I guess. We get it.

And I wouldn't tip teachers- but gifting (and by gifting I mean gift card to Target or the like) at holidays and year end- moving up time. But if I was on LI I would be tipping the teachers, the director and buying some cannoli for the janitor.

It's very interesting how things work here. I've contemplating moving back to MI. Seriously.

I feel like now, I'm without a doubt the talked about" mom. My son went to two different week long day camps this Summer and it didn't even cross my mind to tip. And really, I don't plan on giving anyone cash tips for taking care of or educating my children. Gifts perhaps, but not cash.

 

[Princess89]

Daycare providers get a straight pay, ok not great pay, but not the pay of a waitress where tipping is customary. I worked as a Pre-school teacher, and a daycare assistant. I never once received a tip. Gifts, yes! A tip, never in a million years. When I was the iterim Assistant Director, I never received one either, and IMO, to expect one is pretty unethical.

 

[shellybaxter]

Daycare providers get a straight pay, ok not great pay, but not the pay of a waitress where tipping is customary. I worked as a Pre-school teacher, and a daycare assistant. I never once received a tip. Gifts, yes! A tip, never in a million years. When I was the iterim Assistant Director, I never received one either, and IMO, to expect one is pretty unethical.

I've worked in child development for 20 years and never received a tip. Most of that time I've worked with low income families and have rarely received gifts. I have never expected either. I have to say I have wondered why we tip people for bringing us a hamburger and fries and not for taking care of one of our most precious belongings.

I live in California and the wait staff here receive a regular wage. They do not get a sub minimum wage and most get more than California's $7.50 per hour minimum wage. Child care staff rarely get more than minimum. I happily tip the serving staff when I eat out, but question the values of a society that pays more for serving food (and then tips on top of the pay) than for giving children a good start into the world.

 

[Stimpy]

My kids went/go to a private preschool on LI and I never heard of tipping them. I guess Daycare/preschool is different? We do give gifts for holidays and end of year but tipping is new to me. I'll have to ask around the neighborhood now because I'm curious.

I do tip for day camp counselors and coaches though. I agree with the other poster, for some reason LI'ers give everyone a tip! And I will add that we are the leaders of a cub scout den and we gave cookies to the janitors at the school we hold our meetings at...next year I'm thinking cannolis!