Gifts for Day Care providers

[alyssa810]

I know I have a few months to think about it, but do people typically give a gift to their day care provider around the holidays? I suppose this could also go for teachers. What kind of gifts do you give?

 

[lecach]

I give gift cards to Target or whatever store is close by. Gas cards and restaurant cards are good too. And cash is never bad either. They sure don't need a bunch of junk.

One year I paid for a pizza party. I took in drinks, cups, plates and napkins. And had Dominos deliver 5 pizzas ($5 each). I paid in advance and added in a tip too. I think the teachers all liked it.

Honestly, after 3 1/2 years in daycares (and not all at the same one) I haven't ever really received a sincere appreciative thank you. But that's not why I do it.

 

[sashagiselle]

I've done one big gift certifcate for the staff to where they can choose to have lunch brought in one day. I've done mugs with lottery tickets in them, Ive seen people give miniature potted roses. I've given ornaments from Hallmark. Candies, etc. They always seem appreciative no matter how small the item is.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Please don't take this the wrong way, cause whatever I am given as a gift I always send a thoughtfull thank you note. Gift cards are usually the best(unless you know the caregiver well enough to do something personal). Every year or so I get rid of mugs, they just don't fit in my cabinets after awhile. I can't keep plants alive very long, so while they look really nice on my table for a week or two I feel bad when they die and I have to throw them out. My DH HATES scented candles, so I only get to enjoy them for a bit before he askes me to move them(throw away). Lunch is a nice idea, ecpecially if it can be enjoyed outside of the room(for us, we eat with the kids so maybe not a great idea for everyone). We have pizza day once a month at my preschool, unfortunatly(or maybe not since I make homemade) for my own kids the last thing I want to see is a Domino's pizza.
Just remember what ever you give, do it with thought, like you would anyother gift, consider who the recipient is and what you know about them. Even if you completly miss, at least you tried to give a thoughfull token of all they do. A good teacher should find a way to write a thank you note that shows their appreiciation of the thought you put into it. My "parents" never knew that I received 3 Willow Tree teacher angels one year

 

[LynnTH]

Well, I use a home day care lady and I always give her gifts for Christmas and her Birthday. Her Birthday was just last week and we got her a $50 gift card to a Restaurant. For Christmas we have given her Manicures/Pedicures Gift Cards, Target G/C or just plain cash - usually around $100.

She is great with our kids and they just love her. So, well worth it.

 

[alyssa810]

We had to switch centers in July because our original place was closing. I had taken pictures of Joel with his 2 main teachers during the last week or two, and then I put a picture of Joel with each one in an inexpensive picture frame and gave them on his last day. I had also got a Dunkin Donuts gift card for one who always had iced decaf, and an applebees one for his other teacher. I also wrote them each cards expressing how much we appreciated the care they gave him and that we were sorry the center was closing. Afterward, they both seemed truly touched and most impressed with the pictures and frames. Both said they've received pictures of "their" kids in the past, but never put in a frame. I've since sent the rest of the pictures I had to each, and one had called me to thank me again for the pictures.
I just wanted to see what other people do; we were only there for about 5 months but these were my DS's first caregivers...another part of me thinks that we're paying so much already, I just don't know what the "right" amount will be.

 

[pigletto]

Everyone loves the thought behind gifts. But as a home daycare provider I have to tell you there is just nothing like a really thoughtful card or a thank you. We all want to feel good at our job and the parents who sincerely trust me with their kids and give me a thank you card with their thoughts always always make me cry.
I had a little girl who has been with me a year leave the other day (she has a new sister and an Aunt is going to watch them in their home) and her mom gave me pictures and the most thoughtful card. The words " I would recommend you to anyone" meant the world to me. That is the best gift ever

 

[loopner67]

I've given up trying to find or create "the perfect gift" and have started giving teachers gift cards. I think it's better and maybe even more thoughtful to let them choose something that they know they need or want. I make sure to send along a heartfelt thank you and write down how much I appreciate them.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

As a teacher I have to say... TARGET GIFT CARD!! I can not get another mug or candle and be happy about it! Gift cards are the best but sometimes places where you might shop are not places your teacher/day care provider would. For example, last year my class got me a $70 gift card to Lord and Taylor and it's still in my wallet. I just don't shop there. But everyone can find something to get at Target!

 

[loopner67]

As a teacher I have to say... TARGET GIFT CARD!! I can not get another mug or candle and be happy about it! Gift cards are the best but sometimes places where you might shop are not places your teacher/day care provider would. For example, last year my class got me a $70 gift card to Lord and Taylor and it's still in my wallet. I just don't shop there. But everyone can find something to get at Target!

Good to know! I've been giving JCPenney Gift Cards, but maybe I'll just go with Target next time.

 

[Ephany]

We usually do giftcards in a nice homemade card from DD. Sometimes they're for Target or another store, sometimes for the local movie theater, things like that. I hadn't thought about gas cards, I bet that'd be a hit, or maybe for a local restaurant or grocery store? Our teachers have always seemed very happy to receive the gift cards, and sometimes a bit surprised.

 

[richmond282]

I, too, give gift cards (usually to a restaurant.) At Christmas, sometimes I will also give an ornament or a candle.

 

[mjantz]

Giftcards are great. I'm not terribly keen on Target because it seems like I spend half of the giftcard on stuff for other family members. Personally I'd like ones for movie theatres or eating out or a female-specific clothing store (only if they've mentioned they like a specific one).

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I give gift cards and I try to pick ones that I know fit the interests of the teacher. I usually have an inkling of what they'd like but I'll still ask the daycare center director or another teacher to make sure. In the past 5 years, I've picked gift cards to favorite restaurants, Best Buy gift cards (I was told the teacher was wanting to buy a new DVD player), Old Navy (the teacher's favorite place to buy clothes), iTunes, AMC Theaters, and even Babies R Us (teacher was single mom with an infant). I usually make some homemade goodies to give along with the gift card. My chocolate and peanut butter fudge has been well-received.

I haven't always received a written thank you, but I've always been warmly and sincerely thanked for gifts.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I give gift cards and I try to pick ones that I know fit the interests of the teacher. I usually have an inkling of what they'd like but I'll still ask the daycare center director or another teacher to make sure. In the past 5 years, I've picked gift cards to favorite restaurants, Best Buy gift cards (I was told the teacher was wanting to buy a new DVD player), Old Navy (the teacher's favorite place to buy clothes), iTunes, AMC Theaters, and even Babies R Us (teacher was single mom with an infant). I usually make some homemade goodies to give along with the gift card. My chocolate and peanut butter fudge has been well-received.

I haven't always received a written thank you, but I've always been warmly and sincerely thanked for gifts.

Yeah if you can figure out what they are interested in, that's best. Otherwise I think Target is pretty safe. Good thing my class moms figured me out last year because I got a nice $100 Disney gift card at the end of the school year from my class!!!

 

[DisneyNic]

In the 4 years I have worked at a daycare center, I have received many, many gifts. But there are two gifts that immediately stand out to me. One was from a mom who was pulling her two girls out of daycare because her mom had moved to town and would be watching them. She brought in a small gift bag full of Hershey's kisses with a card that read "Thank you for loving my girls." and had a handprint from each of the girls on it. Just that thank you was one of the best gifts ever.

The second is actually a gift we get each year at Christmas, but each year it still means a lot to us. One of our wonderful mothers brings us two big jars of her DELICIOUS homemade salsa and a couple of big bags of chips. She also attaches cards that her kids have made for us. It is nothing big, but it shows more thought, in my opinion, than some box of candy from a Walmart shelf.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I work in a preschool class and can tell you that we enjoy and appreciate most anything our parents take the time to select for us. One mom gave us a stale box of crackers last year and we thanked her warmly because it was the thought behind it that counted most (it was a low-income family and it was probably all the mom could come up with, bless her heart!).

 

[nikkers]

I think it takes an amazing person to work with children. I am so happy to see DisneyNic and Luv Bunnies posts. It is so nice to hear how much our thank you's are appreciated. I am so thankful to all of the teachers at our daycare. They are so wonderful to my kids. I love giving them something special around the holidays. I like to give GCs to local restaurants. I always like to include something handmade from my kids. Sometimes it is a simple picture. We have always received a thank you note from each teacher.

I really like the idea of having lunch brought in. I am definately going to keep that in mind for this year.

 

[mjantz]

I want to say a bit about lunch being brought in. Be very careful that you know the teachers health needs. I personally cannot eat pizza (weight-loss surgery) & most sandwiches/subs are off-limits as well. We also have a diabetic staff member & another that was training for a marathon & watching what she ate carefully.
I do want to stress that I appreciate anything I am given as a gift by a child.