Holiday Tips for Daycare

aeh72 · September 2012

So this may be WAY early since it's not even Halloween Smile , but I'm starting to think about our holiday budget. Is it the norm to tip your daycare provider(s) at the holidays? This is our first year with DS in daycare (a home daycare) and while I am planning to buy his caregivers gifts at the holidays, I'm wondering if that should actually be in addition to (or instead take the form of) a monetary tip? If we should tip, what is a standard amount? Is it a % of what you pay for the month/year?

TIA!

EvenAngelsFall · September 2012

Pretty sure we are not allowed to tip at our center.... but that being said, his teachers & the nurse will be getting holiday gifts.

jf198400 · September 2012

Generally those with LO's in a center give gifts or gift cards; those using an in-home or nanny generally give cash up to 1 weeks pay.

Ecy · September 2012

I usually give a gift card at Christmas but then just some type of card & treat at holidays like Halloween/Valentines/Easter, etc.

Do y'all give gift cards/money for holidays like Halloween or Thanksgiving?

Ecy · September 2012

Ecy:

I usually give a gift card at Christmas but then just some type of card & treat at holidays like Halloween/Valentines/Easter, etc.

Do y'all give gift cards/money for holidays like Halloween or Thanksgiving?

Ooops, I think I misread the OP. I thought they were including Halloween in the term holidays & I was like "what...these ladies are nice to be giving money/gift cards at all the holidays!"

KathrynMD · September 2012

I try to limit the gift giving at school to Christmas/Holidays and Teacher Appreciation week.

I normally do 25-50 Target GCs for each of DD's main teachers and smaller gifts for the same grade teachers that DD interacts w/ frequently. If I was a baker or had lots of extra time, I'd do that too, but honestly, cash and a card is good.

At teacher appreciation week, I tend to do something smaller - like a plant/flowers and then a GC for Starbucks/Dunkin' Donuts/Panera, etc.

Pesky · September 2012

I always give Target GCs but I am at a center with multiple teachers and aides. Amount varies from $35-5. Depends on who it is and how long my kid has been in their class. It's really what you are comfortable with and can afford.

Nechie122 · September 2012

Last year, there was a collection taken up to throw the teachers a holiday party and I contributed to that. I also gave them GCs to Macy's. I know DC teachers are woefully underpaid so while I didn't think a "tip" was appropriate, I wanted to give them something useful.

For nannies, I think the standard is one week's pay.

AshleyR2452 · September 2012

We're at a home daycare, and pay $140 per week. I think last year, we gave her a nice card and a $100 Visa gift card. That way it didn't seem "weird" giving her cash, but it was something that she could spend on herself. She seemed very thankful and seemed to enjoy it a lot. We also gave her a valentine's card with a box of chocolate for valentine's day.

1026pumpkin · September 2012

I gave DS's teachers gift cards for $50 with a card from DS and a small gift; for teacher appreciate week, I did $20 gift cards with a card and small gift.

When he moves to a room with few teachers, I may do a $100 GC. If he was in home-based DC, I'd do a $100ish GC. If we had a nanny, I'd tip a week's pay.

For small holidays (Valentines, Halloween, etc.) I'll try to bring in some baked goods if I have time.

aeh72 · September 2012

Thanks everyone!

BabyNewbury2012 · October 2012

Thank you for writing this post. I never even thought of doing this. I will have to check with my center to see if they allow us to give gifts at Christmas, if so we will do gift cards for her teachers.

Also I wonder if all centers allow us to bring in baked goods? Does anyone know?

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