May 11th is Nat'l Provider Appreciation Day. This is the first year my boys are in a large facility with multiple providers. In the past, this has been easy for us!
Our Chapel has 12-14 providers and I am at a loss as to what I should do for them. I can't really afford individual gifts for each and I am guessing they'll get more goodies than they need.
Any ideas?
Thanks much!
ADDED: Ben, it means they are not at an in-home daycare with only 1 provider. They are at a large building with 12 to 14 providers and a ton of kids.
I have an easy recipe for flavored popcorn salts you can make up, put in little jars and give everyone with a nice note. Almost everyone likes popcorn! Or find something easy like that. Oh, I also have flavored coffess and coffee creamers too. If you, or anyone else, wants the recipe(s), message me your email address and I'll send it. Good luck.
A few thoughts...
Take some goodies for the office to share earlier in the week...perhaps Monday 5/7 with a card? I like to take bagels vs. sweets. Another option is to have an Edible arrangment delivered early in the week for the staff to share. Or, go to Bath & Body works or someplace like that and buy a variety of good smelling antibacterial hand soaps, hand wipes and hand sanitizers and put into a basket for the school staff to use. They have to wash their hands and sanitize so frequently that some of the good smelling stuff would be a nice treat. You also can offer to have lunch brought in for the staff one day that week (perhaps ask the other parents to contribute to make it more affordable). If you want to get something for each provider, so other options....get some good individually wrapped candies and put into a cute box or bag to give each teacher. Travel candles (the little candles in a tin) or cute votives also are an option. Get some cute pots and some spring flowers and plant individual flowers for each provider with a card that thanks them for helping your child grow.
Usually, I take a little something for each of my daughter's teachers and the director and then a larger food item for the staff to share. Her last school made the entire week "teacher appreciation week," so you parents could stagger treats throughout the week. Our school had parents provide a luncheon and then we also contributed a small amount per family so that each provider could receive a $100 gift card. .
I agree they may get a lot of goodies Here is one they might not get. Homemade hot chocolate or cappuccino mix is always a hit. You can make a lot for about $15 and it can be divided up amongst the caregivers. you could even tie on a biscottie along with it. I make this and sell it on my table at the craft shows and its always one of the first things to sell out. I buy some clear cello bags at the hobby lobby or michaels craft store. and tie it up with pretty curly ribbon.
google gifts in a jar and you will get a bunch of recipes. most of them are in quart jars but you can put it in smaller jelly size jars. they give the directions to attach to each jar so the people can mix it up and enjoy it at home. there are recipes for cookies, brownies, hot chocolate, cappuccino, soups etc. always a huge hit.
Letters/notes of appreciation from the kids/family as a whole seems appropriate here.
You could get cute cheap jars, and make biscotti cookies (super easy) and put them in there along with a $5 gift card to a coffee place in your area, with a note of thanks.
I'm not really sure what a "facility with multiple providers" is, but I've hardly ever seen an adult that wasn't delighted in receiving home made chocolate chip cookies.
Or something similar . . .
Good luck to you and yours.
If you don't want to do food, I would have the kids make a card.
a fruit basket for all to share.
a huge bouquet of flowers for all to split/take home.
anything to share will work!
Speak to those who work directly with your kids and tell them what they mean to you and your kids. They hear complaints all the time so say something from the heart. I used to teach preschool and I still remember kinds words from parents from 15 years ago.
