DC gift for new teacher

mommymegan831

My kids have been at their daycare since September.  We're on a budget so I can't afford really nice gifts for everyone.  I'm sending in Starbucks gift cards, $15 for DD's teacher and $10 for the assistant.  I'm also sending in Dunkin Doughnuts and a box of joe for the whole staff, it's a small school.  I don't know what to do for DS's class.  They've had a lot of turn over and the owner has spent alot of time in his room.  Considering I pay her every week it doesn't seem right to give her a small gift card on top of that. He has an assistant teacher who started a few weeks after him.  The current main teacher started Monday, but DS was out sick all but Monday.  Do I give her a gift?  Would it be rude to give the assistant a gift card and not her?  Should I just leave it alone and they'll get a doughnut?

Amer0317

Similar situation-LO in daycare since sept, however, our lead teacher was made assistant center director 2 weeks ago. New lead started this past week (only saw LO three times) so we did not get her a gift. Maybe a little Scrooge-y, but we felt comfortable with our decision. We gave gifts to old lead as well as assistant from the summer, current assistant, and assistant from the other infant room who loves on our child as much as possible. We feel as though the gifts we gave were a thank you for their hard work and taking care of our child.

MNgirl326

I don't know- I would personally give a gift card to the newer teacher as well.  We had an assistant teacher that went on maternity leave when LO moved into that classroom in Sept.  From Sept - Dec 1, LO had lead teacher and a substitute assistant teacher (the daycare float teacher).  Regular assistant came back on Dec 1 and the sub teacher went back to being the float around the building.

All 3 teachers got some candy and a small gc from target.  The lead and the sub got a nicer note in their cards from us saying thank you for everything they have done and we really appreciate all the hard work they have done.  The teacher who came back from maternity leave got a note saying "Welcome back! Happy holidays!"

In your situation I think even though the teacher is new- a gc is still a nice gesture.

 

jf198400

Personally I'd probably ggive cards to his teachers and leave it at that. You're already buying breakfast for everyone.

djm31012

What about giving something small...like baking cookies or something? Just a little personal thanks and looking fwd to getting to know you.

jbatch

I find the whole not giving a gift to the director thing interesting. I don't think anyone has to get a gift but at the same time I'm not sure I understand why paying for daycare has anything to do with giving a gift to the director as well. Unless the owner and the director are the same person(which is not always the case) paying for daycare does not go directly to the director anyway. The director gets paid just like everyone else. Just wondering why it "doesn't seem right" to send a gift card on top of that.

mommymegan831

jbatch said:

I find the whole not giving a gift to the director thing interesting. I don't think anyone has to get a gift but at the same time I'm not sure I understand why paying for daycare has anything to do with giving a gift to the director as well. Unless the owner and the director are the same person(which is not always the case) paying for daycare does not go directly to the director anyway. The director gets paid just like everyone else. Just wondering why it "doesn't seem right" to send a gift card on top of that.

I decided bringing in breakfast for everyone, while also bringing in two kids and all their stuff was too much, so I got the new teacher and the assistant DD gift cards.

The director and the owner is the same person.  Her husband also helps out in the morning and was great with DS when he had trouble adjusting.  I would like to give them something, but like I said I already give them alot each week.  I'm sure they'd appreciate an edible arrangement or something, but I don't think it's fair to spend them more on them than the teachers, and like I said I'm on a budget.  There are some things I love about the daycare and the owners, and somethings I don't really appreciate.  Should I also be getting them something?

jbatch

I think it's up to you. I just thought it was interesting that they are with your child a lot but you said it doesn't seem right to give them more. I think all gifts depend on what you want to do. They are not mandatory

Sarafar4

I am an the art teacher at our school at an elementary school and receive a wide range of gifts for the holidays. Honestly, it is not the gift itself that matters but the gesture and acknowledgement. A simple card with a nice message is so appreciated. Some other nice gifts are candies, cookies, or even a $5.00 gift card to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. One of the nicest things I ever got was a handmade card from a student saying thank you. I could tell he worked hard on it and I still have it 5 years later.