Gifts for daycare provider

BTBergstrom

Are you doing a gift for your daycare provider? My lo goes to a small in home with one provider so I want to give her something. I have been tossing the idea of a gc around in my head but I just don't know where would be good. I think I will probably just do cash. We can't afford a ton so I was just going to do fifty. Is cash tacky?? What is everyone else doing if anything?

Kewii

I'm doing cash and some chocolate.

BTBergstrom

I like the idea of chocolates. I'll buy a box is nice chocolate and add some cash that way i don't feel totally odd just giving cash

babylimas

I am baking pies. We have 4 teachers and 4 therapists so I need something inexpensive.

maganonymous

Ooh I really like the idea of baking a pie. We were going to do a restaurant gift card so our babysitter and her husband could go out, but I feel like making something would be a bit more personal.

Turtle15SW

Bath and body works had a sale on all things Japanese cherry blossom for $5 each, so I bought 6 hand creams and put the Christmas card of her in it. I think they are doing a different scent each Sunday...at least our store is. Nice, inexpensive gift. Plus they wash their hands so much during the day.

kare_bear_12

I think they deserve something for watching my child. Maybe I can make some sugar cookies and a starbucks gift card.

zartisterica

I love cash but I understand why you would hesitate. Cash and a box of chocolates work!!!

Natty13umppo

NewMomma8 said:

Someone on here mentioned a while back about a plant/flower with a note that said something like "thanks for helping me grow".  I really like pretty, hard to kill plants, so I want to find a plant/flower that isn't something everyone has but won't die easily and I'll do that.

I did that!  I used succulents, which I think are beautiful - tons of variety and small ones are very cheap and big arrangements are $$ so whatever your budget is.  I also have seen the "air plants" which just need misting?  They are usually in a pretty glass container.  Or this time of year, a christmas cactus or poinsettia might be nice!  I just read that you can re-plant poinsettias after the holiday (maybe that's a duh to everyone, but I never thought of it) so if someone is into gardening, they could try that.  Also, rosemary is very hardy and this time of year you can sometimes find rosemary pruned into a christmas tree shape.

babylimas

MaggieM1986 said:

Ooh I really like the idea of baking a pie. We were going to do a restaurant gift card so our babysitter and her husband could go out, but I feel like making something would be a bit more personal.

The therapists can't except gifts, only food. So it works out perfectly!

alfriedeck

if you want a gift card I always get the VISA ones.  that way it can be used anywhere and you don't have to worry about giving cash.

As for LO's daycare.  I am giving her main caregiver a jar of my homemade hot chocolate.  I asked and she doesn't like coffee or else I would have given her a Starbucks gift card.  May get some cheap cookies or chocolates for everyone else at the Daycare

kaking78

We're doing $20 gift cards for each of his four primary teachers. It doesn't seem like much to me for the hard work these ladies do but $80 is a large chunk of our holiday budget.

Does anyone else have a daycare with a front desk and office staff who don't interact directly with the kids? I'm not sure what do for them. I'm thinking of baking a selection of cookies and leaving them in the staff break room with a card.

Natty13umppo

kaking78 said:

We're doing $20 gift cards for each of his four primary teachers. It doesn't seem like much to me for the hard work these ladies do but $80 is a large chunk of our holiday budget.

Does anyone else have a daycare with a front desk and office staff who don't interact directly with the kids? I'm not sure what do for them. I'm thinking of baking a selection of cookies and leaving them in the staff break room with a card.

@kaking78 - this is me, too!  There are two ladies at the front and I know they know DD (this is for DD1's preschool, actually) and say bye to her when we leave and stuff, but I don't know how much they interact with her?  I feel like I should get them something to be nice, but I don't know if that's weird or not.  I'm doing holiday socks and a few chocolate peppermints for her teachers...I could just do the same for them.  I also saw something with a Starbucks giftcard and the message was "Thanks a "latte" for all you do"....I was thinking that might be more the style for admins?  And then there's the director.....should I get her something, too??  Gah!!!  But would that be like giving the principal something?  I never gave the principal a gift when I was growing up...  But I never gave the school admins anything either.  This is where I feel like I just need to decide if I want to be generous and giving to everyone or just stick to the teachers and call it a "teacher's present".  

Natty13umppo

NewMomma8 said:

Ok, so let me throw this one out there.  Apparently the babies "give gifts" to the other babies.  I didn't realize this, and T had all sorts of goody bags for Halloween.  So now I have to try to figure out what to get for a small goody bag for the other babies in her class.

Anyone run into this??

No.  This sounds a little overboard for me.  A token gift for INFANTS?!?!?  I can't even think of what would be appropriate (and cheap enough to do for the whole class).  What, may I ask, is in these bags??

DD1 is in preschool and her last day before Christmas is Friday.  So far she has not received any "gifts" from her classmates....hopefully I'm not in for a surprise on Friday.    She didn't get goody bags for Halloween either, though one mom gave every kid a nicely decorated fancy sugar cookie.

alfriedeck

we are doing a gift exchange for the other infants in LO's room.  but her bestie is in there with her so Im ok with this.  What I did was her Bestie got a Rudolf interactive book,  the other two in the room got a Christmas bib as well as the older of the two got a book and the younger got a teething toy.  Her bestie is a month older, the other two are 6 months and 4 months.  I like this idea but kind of wish it was you bought a nice gift for one of the other 3 kids. 

On a sad note just found out that Lo's bestie will be moved to the older infant room in jan.  She will be so sad, but should more up into that room very soon and they will be together again!

Natty13umppo

@NewMomma8 - I guess a ball is a good toy at that age!  And I bet some babies might be entertained by watching the bubbles.  But yeah, I was thinking Halloween = candy and what could possibly be appropriate at that age??  

Also, FWIW, I've seen cute baby christmas socks for $1 at the store....that would be a nice token baby gift.  I like the idea of a small ornament, too with name and/or year on it.  Or any small Christmas book.  Hah!  Look at all these ideas I have!  Still not getting DD1's school friends gifts.  :P

laurenann89

Pinterest! All kinds of cheap gift ideas!

babylimas

A couple kids in my daughters infant class gave gifts. I never did back. They are still together at 4 and one of them still does it! That mom is way more dedicated than me. It's always just little items from the dollar section. Christmas as infants we got little board books and tiny little stuffed animals.

AshleyO925

We did an edible arrangement they can all share.