Gifts for Daycare Teachers???

I am also pondering what to get my sons daycare teachers and aids. I am more than likely going with a basket of fruit and candy for them all to share, and then give the teacher a holiday candle set. Hope this helps!

i've worked in daycares and now work still work with children. in the past i've received little decorations and loved every one of them. it reminds me of that child and their family each year at christmas (i still have things from 2001!) sometimes i've gotten gifts made from the child like handprint wreaths, tree ornaments, picture frames & they are just as special if not more!!
it's not how much you spend or if anything at all, it really is the thought. just remember how much love and care these people give your children and now is the best time to show them you are appreciative of that!
good luck!

Hi L.! I usually give something a little bigger for the main teacher, bath & body works small basket, yankee candles, etc. But as for all of the others, you would go broke trying to do that. The ornaments are a good idea, or see maybe if you can find cute mugs, dollar stores are usually great for things like that & fill them with candy or cookies, small packs of coffee, anything you can think of really. Then you can wrap them in cute cellophane & a ribbon. It's much cheaper & cute.

L., one mom told me she gets gift certificates form target, the main teacher gets more tahn the teachers aids. i am thinking 50 for the main teacher and then 25 or 30 for the three aids. hope this helps
and if there are ladies at the reception area, maybe boxes of chocolates
vlora

you could get them gift cards or just tip the main provider.

I used to work in day care, I got shirts, and soaps. The best advice I can give is to give them a tree ornament. Its non personal but I loved it becasue it wasn't a personal item. You can't go wrong and you don't have to spend a lot of money on them and they are still a nice gift.

Hi L. -

I spent several years as a daycare worker and several as a clsasroom teacher. It did seem that most children gave some kind of gift and children that didn't (once of enough to realize) were often sad or upset when they saw others giving gifts. The range of items I received over the years is huge. It's the thought that counts and you don't need to spend a lot of money. Small candles, ornaments, lotions & soaps are very popular items. Another inexpensive but thoughtful thing you could do would be send in some homemade cookies or candy wrapped in some pretty way. It depends on how close you are with the different workers - you could give individual gifts or if the caregivers are all in the same room, you could make a nice basket with a variety of snacks/treats for them to share during the day on breaks.

H.

hi L. my name is A. and last year for my daughter teachers i did something simple.i bought them a little photo album and a put some pictures in it of my girl and a couple of all the class that i had randomly taken on a previous day. it was a very cheap gift but the teacher did love it.good luck in your decision.

When I worked, the best idea I saw come into our office was someone bought us lunch one day. Nothing fancy, just a sandwich tray and salads from the local grocery store. We all loved it so much and really felt as if the people appreciated all we did for them.

L., one time a mother of 2 children I cared for gave me a Christmas ornament. It said "#1 Babysitter". It was really a kind gesture, and I think about her and her children every year as I hang up the ornament! Some of the other women suggested gift cards, which is a great idea assuming you have money to give away:) Thought this might be a cheaper idea, since your kids have five teachers that care for them. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in what they are going to buy, that they forget that "it's the thought that counts"! I think they will appreciate anything you buy for them!!

Wow! $100 total worth of gifts certificates for all the teachers can be more than many people can do. I worked in daycares in the past and have seen several things. At one place, the parents pitched in together and bought us a gift certificate to get some dinner after work one night (it was a great bonding experience for the teachers to be together without the children!). I have also experienced parents who put together a "pot-luck" for the teachers. Since most daycare centers give their employees a Christmas bonus already, you could do something as simple as donuts/bagels for breakfast or cookies or something like that.

Just thought I would add this:
According to Emily Post's Ettiquette book, a nanny should be gifted one week to one month's salary from the parents plus a small gift from the children. An evening babysitter should be gifted the equivalent of a night's work from the parents plus a small gift from the children. But even these are subject to what is within your means and how close you and your children are to the provider.

Hope this helps!

HI L.,

sounds like you have plenty of ideas. As a former daycare teacher, I have to go on record as saying, keep the mugs and the ornaments, fattening cookies, and the other christmas junk, I'd rather have a thoughtful card with a note about how much you appreciate the love I've given your child, and pass along a copy or another note to my boss so They know that you appreciate my efforts.
Or get to know me in September and find out what my hobbies are. Just taking a few mins to treat me as a human and not just some one that watches your kid.
Flylady.net has lots of other ideas for giving gifts that aren't clutter, too.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Hope your holidays are great and your child's teacher loves him/her as much as you do!

I have four children and after all is said and done I'd have to buy for about 7 different people. We just can't afford something like that and I never knew what would really be appreciated. I began making Christmas cookies...about 5 different types and giving them about a dozen cookies in a clear gift bag with a silver bow. One of the teachers told me she really appreciated it since she didn't have much time to make cookies while caring for children all day and now she had some to put out if company came by.

Hope this helps. Good luck and Happy Holidays!