I absolutely adore my daycare provider. She has been fantastic with my son & also with me as a new mom. I want to do something for her for Christmas. My question is should I do something for her kids & husband too? They all love my son.
The entire family pitches in at my son's daycare so I always want to do something for them. Last Christmas I did a "movie night" bundle with a big popcorn bowl and popcorn and DVDs. They seemed to really enjoy it. This was in addition to the cash gift for the caregiver.
If you are familiar with her husband and kids, then I would maybe get a certificate to a family friendly restaurant or family fun place. If you don't know the husband/children very well, then maybe just make a note in the card that we thank you and your family for spending time with ours (i.e. yours). I would definitely go with cash or gift card (target is usually a hit) for a gift :)
Hi,
I do homedaycare and used to have amazing families that I worked with! Some would give me an extra week's pay,others would give not only myself a gift but my family too. I appreciated it since my hubby and daughter help out too with the kids. Do what feels right to you! If you put thought into it it will show! :)
M.
I'm a teacher and gift cards are always appreciated--like Target, Starbucks, and Simon Malls, because then I can use them to buy much needed items for my family. Ornaments are nice too and any baked goods, but the fact that you want to do something for all of them speaks well of you and of them. If you can afford it, movie tickets for the family, museum tickets, or a little gift basket with soemthing special, just for her, would be so appreciated. I'm sure of it.
I am Home daycare provider and I can tell you some of my parents buy personal gifts for myself, daughter and husband and it really makes me feel appreciated that they took the time to get for everyone as everyone helps with the daycare in some way. Just my 2 cents.
S.
I am a family childcare provider myself, so I can advise you from this side of the equation. Yes, I would recommend doing something for the rest of the family as well, particularly the son. Family childcare does not work unless we have the support of the rest of our family. We are using their home as part of our business. It doesn't get much more personal than that. I have been in business for 13 years now, and my clients have been very kind in remembering my children. (I'm a single mom, so can't speak about the husband part.) Now my children are young adults, but when they were younger, I think it was important that they see concrete evidence that good things happened to them too as a result of being kind enough to share their mom and their home with others. Another suggestion might be to do something for the whole family together. I remember my sister used to get her provider a membership to the zoo. (The Zoo was in their area) I thought that was a nice way to do it.
In any case, I am happy to read that you are having such a positive experience w family childcare. When its done right, I don't think anything beats it.
K.
Get them a family gift, like movie tickets or musuem pass or something. That way they can all enjoy it.
I have really gotten into ornaments over the years. I would give her an ornament symbolizing something your son and her enjoy together. For example my babysitter and son will go to Starbucks for coffee and cocoa so I got her a Starbucks cup ornament. Then for the family, maybe a cookie plate or homemade carmel corn or a fruit basket or cheese and crackers??? Have fun with it! I always loved those gifts when we got them as a kid.
I would maybe give a larger gift that the whole family can use and maybe a small little gift for your actual daycare provider. I don't know how much you want to spend, but maybe a gift certificate to a restaurant everyone would enjoy and then a little gift to your actual provider that just tells her you want to thank her personally too. Maybe you could give her a candle or a little something you know she would really enjoy. Or, make something personal from your 10 month old- maybe an ornament or potholder or dish towel with his handprint on it saying "Best Daycare Provider" or something along those lines.
Hi S.,
When my son was in daycare, she had 3 children of her own. I gave her something special, and then usually a group gift for her children (board games, video games etc). I did not get her husband anything.
