What do you give to day care providers?

[AZMermaid]

This is my first year with a child in day care. He has two teachers, one mid 40's woman who is there from 8-2ish with him and then an 18 year old who is there from 2-5:30 (although I pick him up around 4:30). He goes MWF and there are three toddlers total in his class on those days. My mom watches him T/Th at my house. I am just giving my mom an Einstein's gift card and coffee mug, because she usually stops there on her way over, in addition to her regular Christmas gift.

So, I was thinking a $25 GC for each teacher, probably Amazon for the younger one, but I have no idea where for the older one. Does that seem about right? Then I had friends tell me they give between $10-$25 for each of their kids day care teachers, but they go to Kindercare so they each have like 4-5 teachers and like 20 kids in their classrooms. So, that made me wonder if I should give more based on our low ratios/ number of teachers. What is the normal?

FWIW- I teach elementary, and a $20/$25 GC is a pretty standard gift, which is how I cam up with that figure!

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I used to work at a daycare center. I would have loved to receive a gift card from parents! Understandably though, because each child had several caregivers, parents would generally bring is something like a basket of goodies to be enjoyed by everyone.

I think $25 is a great amount. Target or Starbucks would be great places to buy a gift card from.

Also, if you have any pictures you have had taken of your child (professional ones or a special one you've taken), you might want to put a copy of it in the card to the teacher. I still have the pictures parents gave me of their children from 15 years ago. Those little boys and girls (now big!) mean the world to me!!!

 

[dreamer423]

Preschool teacher here-that sounds very thoughtful. there are also Am ex gift cards that can be used anywhere.

 

[mward73]

We have 3-4 teachers to buy for each year. I usually do $15-20 to a restaurant nearby (depends on the promotion they're running for free "extra" gc's) that they can run to for lunch. I figured it'll cover 2 lunches for them. Turns out the place I picked last year is the place of choice for happy hour for all the teachers, so they loved it. lol A slightly different crowd of teachers this year, so I'll do that place for the 2 younger teachers and Applebees for the 2 older ones that don't go to happy hour. I put that in a small gift bag with a Yankee Candle and some homemade frosted sugar cookies (snowflakes or mittens so it's holiday-neutral and I know at least one of their teachers is Jewish so I don't want to guess wrong on the others or offend in any way).

 

[BMC423]

That is really nice, my son has three and I always get them a set from Bath and Body.

 

[2binak]

My DD's daycare teachers are very grateful for restaurant gift cards. We give them to the teachers for end of the year gifts.

For Christmas, I get the Burt's Bees grab bags each year & split them up between DD's teachers. The things we give the teachers equal $25-30 retaill. They love these too, especially the lotions & lip balms since they spend so much time outside & washing their hands.

Both gifts are something they make good use of and gives them a chance to feel a bit pampered....something they definitely deserve!

 

[sherry7]

I'm glad you posted this question, because I've been debating the same thing. My daughter goes to a smaller daycare center with only 4 teachers. During the course of a week, all 4 teachers take care of her.

I was thinking a $20 gift card, but DH suggested $25 instead. I think I'm going to get Walmart gift cards, since I've heard all 4 ladies talk about shopping there. I also made up personalized cards on an online site, with a photo of DD on the card and a nice little poem about how much the teachers are appreciated. (I didn't write it myself, but Google is my friend.)

 

[crazyme5kids]

I work in a childcare center. I can give you an idea what to get or not to get based upon my coworkers reaction to gifts received in the past. Then I will tell you what I would love.

Skip the Starbucks gift cards, but stay with a gift card from someplace that has "something for everyone" (Target, Walmart, Barnes & Nobles, AmEx etc...). Restaurant ones are great too. Cash.

Unless you know for a fact a teacher likes Bath and Body Works stuff, as well as the scent, I would skip that too. You will just be wasting your money. Same with candles. I'd skip anything scented. I will say though, two of my favorite gifts did involve scents, one was a diffuser thing from Pier One, the other were air freshener things for the infant room (which I work in) in Clean Cotton scent .

No picture frames either. No mugs. No scarves, gloves or mittens. Although a mother did crochet one as a gift for me once and I did love it. I don't think other staff members would have though. Sad I know.

We all got Vera Bradley lunch bags last year, and everyone loved them. I have no idea what they cost though, so might be too pricey.

Now onto what I would really love. I would much rather parents not give me anything. Instead, I would love it if they donated a bag of food to a food pantry, or a toy to a toy drive. Or go to a local blood bank and donate blood. In other words, use the money you would spend on me for a greater cause. That would make me very, very happy! My coworkers, eh, not so much.

 

[willowsnn3]

I work in a childcare center. I can give you an idea what to get or not to get based upon my coworkers reaction to gifts received in the past. Then I will tell you what I would love.

Skip the Starbucks gift cards, but stay with a gift card from someplace that has "something for everyone" (Target, Walmart, Barnes & Nobles, AmEx etc...). Restaurant ones are great too. Cash.

Unless you know for a fact a teacher likes Bath and Body Works stuff, as well as the scent, I would skip that too. You will just be wasting your money. Same with candles. I'd skip anything scented.

I agree with this!!! My dd is a director of a day care. She is also a single mom of 2. She would much prefer the gift cards for Target/WalMart.

 

[jjb52]

I work with in home licensed daycare providers and when this topic comes up providers always say they appreciate a monetary gift instead of candles, plants, candy, etc. Money can be used for anything needed for themselves or their businesses. I always gave my in home provider one weeks pay which was $50 30 years ago. If you can't afford a weeks pay then a nice card with a thank you and what you can afford will be appreciated. I think the key is to tell them how much you appreciate the care they give your child.

 

[ArielRae]

Is a lotto scratcher ok?

 

[pigletto]

In Home Provider here. Some do give me extra pay, some candles or chocolate, or an ornament or a thank you card.
I was raised to be appreciative of being recognized and thanked. I am not in the habit of asking for gift cards or anything for that matter.
I truly truly just appreciate being thanked and noticed. Honest!

 

[sherry7]

Is a lotto scratcher ok?

Just my opinion, but I think lotto scratchies are tacky, and unappreciated by many people. Use the money and buy a gift card instead.

 

[kirstenb1]

When our older dd was in daycare, she had a lead teacher, then various teachers who watched the kids after 4 oclock til pickup. Each year, I wrote the lead teacher a check equivalent to the fee for the week. Then I gave smaller gift cards to the teachers who rotated in and out for aftercare.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Is a lotto scratcher ok?

I would enjoy getting a lottery ticket!

 

[Evi]

I have a friend who runs private childcare out of her home she has 3 little ones every day. 2 are siblings so its two families. Both families gave her a weeks salary as a bonus for last 3 holiday seasons. I don't know if this is the norm. But it seemed like a nice jesture considering since she is doing childcare from her home all additional expenses (insurance, toys, food, etc) come out of her pocket. Just something to think about.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I think an Amazon gift card would be great for both teachers. Just because one is in her mid 40's doesn't mean she won't shop online. I give Amazon gift cards to my kids elementary teachers.

I am a home daycare provider, and I usually get cash or giftcards ranging from $50.00 to $100.00. I also have had some parents give me a little bag of candy or a candle, and I like that too. It really is the thought that counts.

One of the best gifts I remember was one parent gave me a big box full of different kinds of paper and craft supplies for the kids. There were also some kids books in there. I loved that gift, and the kids loved it too. I spend so much money on those types of things.

 

[GSUJillybean]

DS is in pre-k, and has two teachers.

I thought I did a good job-- I bought them each some Vera Bradley stationery while it was on super sale. But, I only spent about $10/teacher.

Is that enough?

 

[Hoodie]

I think an Amazon gift card would be great for both teachers. Just because one is in her mid 40's doesn't mean she won't shop online. I give Amazon gift cards to my kids elementary teachers.

I am a home daycare provider, and I usually get cash or giftcards ranging from $50.00 to $100.00. I also have had some parents give me a little bag of candy or a candle, and I like that too. It really is the thought that counts.

One of the best gifts I remember was one parent gave me a big box full of different kinds of paper and craft supplies for the kids. There were also some kids books in there. I loved that gift, and the kids loved it too. I spend so much money on those types of things.

I'm glad you posted that! We were planning on giving our home daycare provider something similar and when I was reading the posts of people giving a weeks salary I almost choked. We pay her $375 a week. That's more than we are spending on our immediate family in total. There's no WAY we could afford an extra week's salary as a bonus for her!!

 

[dhardawa]

Max goes to a daycare center. He has people who are usually in his room, but I know everyone who works there and sometimes he goes to other classes and I'm never sure if there is someone else who pops in during the day who I don't see so I ususally just bake some goodies and take them in for everyone. That way the lady who does the cooking, his old teachers, the owner, etc. all get included.