Presents for Day Care Teachers

We made ornaments for the teachers in my son's preschool. We went to Michaels & bought clear ornaments (6 cost $2.50) and bought some metallic paint ($6 for 4). You put the paint inside the ornament and let the child shake the paint around in the ornament and TA DA! Instant gift and they came out really cute! I attached little tags saying Handmade by . . .

Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Jen

How about making something?! That way you and your child can enjoy the giving! Cookies or baked goods are nice, or how about an ornament? My 15 month old son and I made footprints on cardstock, then I cut them into ovals, decorated them like penguins or reindeer, and put a nice ribbon on to hang from the tree. They LOVEd the personal touch and it was super cheap! I have also seen people make ornaments by taking the clear glass balls, and pouring craft paint inside, swirling around, and when dry, adding another color...beautiful. I think you can google these projects to get instructions. DONT spend more than you have.

I get lots of gifts from my students, and I always LOVE getting little gift cards. Even in small denominations. They are useful, and don't produce "clutter" that I feel obligated to keep and guilty if I throw away. I got a $10 gift card to Subway sandwiches, and was thrilled! Starbucks, Jamba juice, even Macy's. But don't spend a lot of money. It's the thought that counts. Think "consumable"!!! Homemade baked goods are always appreciated too.

Good advice so far. Don't spend a lot of cash,, it just isn
t necessary to give a fancy gift to eveyone you or your child comes in contact with. My sister has been a preschool director for 30+ years and it can be very overwhelming to recieve so much "stuff", no matter how meaningful or heartfelt it is. I did child daycare in my home for 24 years and had to convince parents to NOT buy me a gift, but a card or small plate of snacks (cut up fruit, crackers, veggies w/dip)for the group would be wonderful.It was fun to share with the group and they each knew it was a gift from one of them. It made it a nice party in some ways. Buy a few of the mini loaf pans and get a mix for a tasty bread or cake and make 4 or 5 loaves. Wrap in plastic and put a bow on top. Give each teacher 1 loaf and it's plenty. Your child can help do all this and feel a real part of the gift giving. The teacher will love a yummy little dessert way more than another cup, scarf, "apple motiff whatever" or expensive item. And it will show you care, not cost a fortune, and won't bog the teacher down with future garage sale items. Merry Christmas.

There are lots of fun, inexpensive holiday crafts that you & your son can make together...like an ornament for each teacher. Wal-Mart or other craft stores usually have tons to choose from. A gift from the heart always means a lot - especially if that gift is handmade. :) Good luck!

Hello M., As the mother of 5 and the grandmother of several cuites. We have all done the "Child Care" gift problem. As I have also run a Day Care Center for several years. I can give you a little insight to the gifts I have recieved.
I have recieved photos of the children I cared for, I have been given supplies for the sctivities we do, often flowers, and the ones I liked best was the ones I could plant. One little one brought me a casserole so I didn't have to cook. I think the notes of appreciation mean the most.
We have given gift certificates as well.
One year out of much love and kindness several of the families got together and did yard work and small repairs for me. Just don't get into the Yuppie, mode and think that you have to give an extra week of pay or anything.That is totally out of line. But just keep it simple for yourself. Nana Glenda

I"ve given a plate of cookies with a card from me and my son....the gesture was very appreciated....

Or you can pick out ornaments from the $1 Store????

I don't think any teacher EXPECTS all of their students to give them a present for Christmas....if you truly appreciate them, though, it is a very nice gesture :O)

~N. Merry Christmas!

Hello M.,

I have a few ideas. Hope they are helpful! As a mother of a preschooler, 4 1/2 years old, many teachers have suggested "just make something!" A card is usually all that is expected. The gesture in itself is nice and will be appreciated.

I recommend that your son, depending on his age, make cards for his teachers. The teachers will certainly enjoy this gift! Or if he is too young, just give them a batch of homemade cookies if you have time. Or a thoughtfully written card, telling them how much you appreciate their care for your child, certainly will be enough. Just don't stress yourself out over it too much!

Having been a daycare teacher for over 20 years, let me give you the teacher's point of view... realizing that this is only one teacher's point of view, but that many will feel the same way. We don't expect gifts at Christmas or any other time of year. But, the little things you might do to show appreciation are nice. If you want to give something, let it be something that allows your child to participate, because a teacher's heart is warmed more by knowing you are teaching your child to appreciate her (or him) than by you showing you can find the most unique or extravagant gift. Do baked goods and/or a craft together with your son. Don't expect them to come out perfect, because the teacher will love seeing the child's work in them. Some suggestions... a special tree ornament (include a small picture of your son on it if you'd like to do that), cutout and decorated cookies... either edible or make up a gingerbread playdough (recipe below) and dry them (can be made into tree ornaments as well), if you have a special "secret" family recipe of any type, perhaps make that up to give. Personally I'd love a good homemade soup being brought for my lunch one day. Since you mention there are at least four people who work with your child, if they get together for lunch, that might be a perfect way to show appreciation. You can even join forces with other parents and each bring something. The things I recommend you AVOID are storebought sweets because teachers tend to get overloaded with that type of thing, perfumes, costume jewelry.

Recipe for gingerbread playdough.
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup cinnamon (buy the cheapest you can find)
add smaller amounts of ginger, cloves, allspice to the mix if desired.
Mix all of that together, then begin adding water to make a stiff dough. Knead the dough well, and store in a zip lock bag or tightly covered container until ready to use.
To make items, knead the dough then make free hand forms or roll out to about 1/3 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters. If making a tree ornament, use a pencil or other tool to form a hole at the top to put a string loop through for hanging. Put the finished product in a warm place to dry (takes about a week, depending on thickness of the item) turn the items each day to allow for even and complete drying. You can also put the items into an oven set on the lowest heat (mine is 170 degrees) for several hours to speed up the drying.
One of my favorite things to do with this for the parents is to take a rather large lump of the dough, form it into a heart shape about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, then help the child make a handprint in the heart. I take a pencil and put the child's name and the date on the edge of the heart.
These may take up to two weeks to dry because of the extra thickness. If you have a cooling rack, it helps to put them on that, but use a piece of wax paper... or even just a sheet of plain paper under them so they don't stick to the rack.

Hi M. - My son is 3 yrs old and he just started preschool too. Like your son, my son has a main teacher (the director) and 3 other teachers who are her assistant teachers. I think it would be a good idea if you got them a Xmas gift. Remember, it doesn't have to be costly. I only got one gift for the 4 of them but it can be suited for all. I like to get creative so I painted a wood sign with the schools name on it. I have paints and other items so I only really spent a few dollars on the plaque itself. I also work full time so I know your probably limited on time as well. I also love taking pictures! I always carry my camera with me. So every chance I get, I snap pictures. Print a picture of your child and teacher, put it in a nice frame that could cost you as little as $1 at the dollar store. And that would make a nice, thoughtful gift as well.
Hope that helps!gifts don't have to be costly. They just have to come from the heart.
Happy holidays!

Good luck,
Becca

Hello,
I am a daycare provider and preschool teacher and I have to tell you that some parents do go all out and spend a lot of money, but the BEST gifts that I get all year is to know that what I do for your child means something to you. A card just saying thank you is great.
If you feel the need to spend money, go to the dollar store and have your child pick out an ornament for his teacher. It makes it personal, from the child, and you didn't spend a lot of money

If you can't afford to buy gifts, I would do a personal note to each one thanking them for their wonderful work caring for your son.

HI M.-
I suggest a baked gift. This way your little one can help and you won't spend alot of money. I have a couple of recipes that you might like that are pretty easy.
Also, if you do the bread in mini loaves or do brownies and cookies on mini plates and wrap in cello or saran wrap with a bow, you can share a "one bake" with all 4.
Here is one of my favorites- I altered a recipe that my mum got from a college roommate and made it my own.

Apple Cranberry Bread
3 cups flour
1 1/4 cups rolled oats (any generic oatmeal will do)
1 tbspn cinnamon
1 tsp clove
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups applesauce (if you don't have sauce, use 2 cups oil)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 to 1 1/2 cups brown sugar (dark is fine)
2 cups chopped, skinned apple
1/2 - 1 cup dried cranberries or finely chopped fresh

Mix all dry ingredients.
Add all wet ingredients.
Stir until nice and sloppy and sticky =)
**you can refrigerate this for a couple of days if you can't cook it the same night you mix it up. I let mine sit for 3 days and just stirred it up before baking...it was perfect!**
Heat oven to 325 F. Using either 5 or 6 mini loaf pans, or 2 or 3 medium loaf pans (I used disposable), spray/grease with pam. Fill each pan a little about 2.3 full. Bake for 45-55 minutes/until done. CHeck with toothpick.
Bread will be VERY soft. Let sit in pans for 10-15 minutes. Then set out on cooling rack. They will thicken up even more once cool. Wrap with saran wrap and stick a bow on top!
Hope you like it! Enjoy!
-E. M

I would bake cookies or bake bread and wrap it in Holiday Cellophane paper and put Red and Green Ribbon on it and call it a day. You can even buy a nice bread or loaf from Costco. Nice and simple and special.