Daycare Center Holiday Gift?

Hi M.,
It seems as though the gifts given at daycare run from nothing to cash and all that is in between. I have seen some teachers get candles and bottle of wine. The first year I bought the teacher monogramed tote bags...the second year, monogramed stationary. I soon realized that these teachers make so little money (as I am on the daycare board) and I now give them cash. Last year I have $25 each to his two head teachers and and $10 gift certs to starbucks for the helper teachers. Since you have two boys that means there are a lot of teachers! I would go with $10 gift cards for each and maybe a little more for the lead teachers. If I really like a teacher, I do give more.

Hi M.- First let me say how great it is that you want to acknowledge your children's center. I own a center and I have recieved all sorts of gifts over the last 13 years, but I think the best is a gift for the classroom. Centers can always use supplies, puzzles (age appropriate), a new music CD, or even books. If you want to thank the office staff too maybe a nice batch of homemade cookies...or a deli platter from a local grocer...

It is expensive to buy lotion for everyone- one year I recieved 15 bottles of lotion. A center really just wants to know that the families care and think of them as extended family and not just sitters. I'm sure anything you do will be greatly appreciated.
Happy Holidays!

With my sons, I give small gifts and give them to the primary teachers and assistants only (the ones that are only in my kiddos classes, not the rotating teachers.) There are so many other helpers, it seemed to be the only way to go.
If you really want to do something for everyone, I would suggest some sort of food. Its just personal preference, but I know when we have holiday snacks in the office (much as I dread the extra pounds... lol) it always brightens my day. If there is some sort of a common area, or teacher breakroom, you could leave a plate of cookies or something there with a little note saying "Thank you" from you and your kiddos. Just make sure you let someone know its there so no wandering little ones help themselves!
This year I'm doing little "snow globe" picture frames and putting a Wawa gift card in each. I know most of the teachers drink coffee, and I figured if not, everyone could use a little extra gas money these days.

This probably sounds funny, but when I worked at Parents Day Out, my favorite gift I received was some nice hand lotion! You have to wash your hands constantly in that setting, and they get so dry and chapped.

When my little guy was in daycare I would buy a bundle of flowers and we would make cards for each teacher and tie them individually to a single flower. So he got to personalize each card and it made him feel so grown up to give a gift of his own. Also, for holidays I will take him to just a dollar tree so he can pick out his own gifts. It is a cheap and simple way to let them give their own thoughtful gifts. It is the thought that counts, so, I would ask him why he chose the specific gift for that person. And the items usually reminded him of a specific memory or reminded him of that person for some reason or another. very cute.

When I was younger I worked at a daycare so from the workers point of view if your not going to do individual gifts I would do some sort of goody basket that they can all take from. Like a morning muffin and bagel basket. Or one with holiday themed candy. I really liked getting the group baskets, it was a nice surprise to walk into work and see a big basket full of goodies with a sweet note from a parent just showing how much they care. So yeah that's my thought.

Hi M. - that's great you want to honor your center with a gift. My sis is a K-1 teacher and she says the gifts she remembers and keeps are the ones that are personal from a child. She loves pictures. She enjoyed a calendar a parent made for her with artwork and pictures from kids from the classroom. Another mom made her an amazing quilt that had ironed-on pictures of kids in her class that year and all the parents and kids signed the back like a yearbook.

I also like the supply idea and fruit and yummies are always welcome. One end of year gift we gave my son's kinder teacher was a picture frame album that we found on sale at Hobby Lobby. It was basically a box on a lazy susan with 5x7s on the 4 sides and had 5 or 6 inserts with 15 or so picture envelopes on each. My son drew pictures and wrote a letter to his teacher that we put in the frames. When we visited this year I noticed that she's been labeling the top of the inserts 2008 2008 2009 which I thought was a cute idea.

Hi M.

When I was a Preschool teacher the best "gifts" I got were when the parents wrote me a thank you note and put a picture of their child in it. I can see by your post that you really appreciate the daycare center your boys go to, so tell each of them that. Thay will really appreciate you taking the time to let them know.