Ideas to Do Something Nice for Childcare Providers

Two things come to mind: A Box of Joe from Dunkin Donuts or a Satin Hands Set from Mary Kay. I have been taking my kids to daycare for over 14 years now (my kids range from 14 - 4) and I know they love to drink coffee and they are constantly washing their hands .. if you need a hands set contact me.

We have 2 kids in day care which means 4 teachers at any given time.

A friend gives the teachers gift cards as a token of her appreciation. She has 1 kid and perhaps some more disposable income. We spent almost $20K on day care last year - which happens to be the difference in my salary before and after my layoff, so I feel it, too.

We've been making gifts for them - when I taught gymnastics, I got a lot of gifts from parents. Most, though generous, were never used (lotions, etc). But, I always kept the pictures of the students. So, I go to WalMart, hobby stores, and purchase cheap acrylic frames, write the kids names/date on the frame in permanent paint pens (not Sharpies), and mount a cute/funny picture on some scrapbook paper. I have a card, have the kids draw in it, and give it to the teachers. It's not much, but it's sentimental and gets the kids into the spirit of showing appreciation, too.

Something else we've done recently is to purchase some supplies for the class (we all know teachers spend a good amount of their own money on supplies). Whether it's crayons, construction paper, stickers, etc. We'll try to bring things in (even our plastic grocery bags for kids who have accidents) that we know they need without them having to ask.

Good luck.

you could do a nice colage of pictures to hang up in the class.

For a mother's day one year I purchased little ceramic flower pots. The children used washable paint and made thumbprints on them. When the colors were dry I went back and with black paint added bug detail such as bees, ladybugs, and spiders. Don't forget to spray it with a clear outdoor overcoat of some sort so the weather doesn't ruin it. It was relatively inexpensive and they turned out adorable!!

I think the last thing teachers want to do at the end of the day is go home and cook dinner. Perhaps, if you like to cook, you could make another batch of something you are already doing, like a lasagna, a chicken pie or a special quiche. That would avoid the sweets issue if you want to, although as others have said, you can give them something sweet that isn't meant to be shared with the kids. (It kind of defeats the purpose of a gift if they have to distribute it anyway!) If you shop in bulk, this wouldn't be too expensive. A gift of your time is even more special than a gift of money.

However, at the end of the year, it's nice to collect money from other parents and give them each a big gift card to a store or restaurant or a spa (facials, massages, things they don't splurge on). I don't think teachers need more STUFF - most will tell you they get a lot of this every year from kids (like apple-themed desk accessories) and, after a while, it gets a little old and becomes a storage and dusting nightmare. My friend is a kindergarten teacher and bought herself a terrific purse with a boutique gift certificate the parents chipped in for.

You could also barter for services if you know someone - for example, if you can babysit for a friend's kids, and that friend is a hairdresser or manicurist or massage therapist, you might be able to "earn" a gift certificate for your teachers.

Think creatively and not about spending money!! Good luck!

When I owned a Child care Center some of the most memorable gifts were supplies. A homemade play dough, wood blocks cut up, sanded, and painted. One of my parents had a body shop so they borrowed some outdoor toys, they were metal fireturucks, a batmobile, and benches, they sand blasted them, well I think they used baking soda instead of sand, anyway they stripped the toys and repainted them. They used heavy duty paint so the toys are still looking good 10 years later. One of my parents cleaned their classes carpet, one made new curtains. It can be anything.

I had my best friend make bead necklaces for K's Head Start Teachers. I wanted them to have something personal they could take with them. They wore totally different color groups. One wore oranges, greens, and browns and the other wore pink, reds, and blues. I picked out the beads from my friends selections and paid her about $10. for each necklace. She sells her jewelry for a bit more but was willing to give me a deal. You can buy things for crafts similar to this at Hobby Lobby, especially when the jewelry making supplies are on half price. Several things are 50% off this week in that dept.

If you want to give them something they will count as their own you can always give books and write their name in the front from your family. When I left my center I took my things with me and still have them. You caould make them craft aprons with lots of pockets. Skinny slots for crayons, heavy (double or triple thickness) pockets for scissors, etc....

I think teachers work very hard and I always appreciate stories of good ones, there are always so many posts about moms not liking their kids care givers and it always makes me sad. Thank you for sharing that there are good ones out there.

How about a couple of nice potted plants with a nice hand made card from your boys letting each of the teachers know you were thinking of them. Then the plants could be used as decoration in the classroom as well as for a "job of the day".
Just remember it really is the tought that counts!

As a former childcare provider, I remember not having a lot of pennies to scrape together and was always touched when any of the kids gave me a present. While you mention that the classroom does not accept sweets, there is no reason why you could not make the teachers something scrumptious for their own personal consumption that was not meant to be shared in the classroom. I remember getting many a delicious cookie and/or brownie gift that was not intended for to be passed around to any of my two-year-old charges.

When my daughter was at a daycare I contacted all the other parents and asked if they wanted to go in on a gift card for the teachers to show our appreciation. $10-$20 a piece wound up giving the 2 teachers a REALLY nice chunk of a gift card.

I can't read what has already been posted so this might be redundant but could you volunteer for the daycare center? Depending on your time and skill it could be something so simple as being a guest reader or even offer to do some computer input for their mailing list - something as simple as that is often a time consuming task for your teachers/daycare assistants.

How about a CD you make of your kids fav music for the classroom? Do you have any photos of your boys with their teachers/care givers? If so, you could make a small book by laminating them, having your boys draw or put stickers around the photos! Good luck!!!

A heartfelt letter of appreciation would be wonderful.

Hi J.,

One idea I did this year is to bring my son's teachers lunch. I sent in a heartfelt card sharing how appreciative we are of everything they do, and offered to bring them lunch from a delicious sandwich shop. I included the takeout menu from the shop, let them choose what they wanted, and offered 4-5 dates when I could bring in lunch. I got their order the day before and dropped it off. They were all so appreciative. Because of the young age of the kids (2 years old), they typically eat lunch when the kids are napping, so they were able to enjoy their yummy lunch in a bit of quiet during the day. This might not work as well in a very small in-home daycare. This was easily under $10 per teacher.

I actually got this idea from my Mom, who has worked in a kindergarten classroom for 20 years. She has received many gifts, but a Mom bringing her lunch with a heartfelt note was one she found the most touching and appreciative.

Let us know what you do!
L.

Pedicures and manicures give caregivers a chance to feel good about themselves, pampered! You can get a pedicure for $20, or a manicure for $12.