Need some ideas. My in home daycare provider for the last 5 years is "retiring" from babysitting to pursue other opportunites. She has provided excellent care for both my girls (both since they were 2 months old). She and her entire family have become family to us. I want to get her something extra special but am at a lose for ideas. She has tons of pics of my kids already, I've given her gifts from Things Remembered in the past and given her gift cards to restaurants, spas, etc. on various occasions. Even though she will continue to be part of our lives and see my children, she will probably not see them everyday anymore. Not really looking to give her a monetary amount since I want it to be something special to remember by kids forever and ever!! Would love to hear ideas of things you've given or received.
There are places around here where you can paint pottery and they'll fire it for you. Maybe you could do a plate with their hand prints on it or something?
We just finished up with our daycare provider of 5 years too. She was everything to us and we hated to leave her, but DD needs to go to Kindergarten.
During teacher appreciation week in May we gave her a small gift each day: big bottle of hand sanitizer decorated by DD with stickers, jar with crayons hot glued to the outside with smarties inside, personalized clock, sticker labels asking for more wipes and diapers, and on Friday DD wore a shirt that on the front had pictures of DD throughout all 5 years with "Thank you for helping me grow" printed on it. Then on the back I had "I love ________(daycare provider and her families names) in DDs handwriting.
On DDs last day of daycare we gave her a small scrapbook of pix of DD throughout the 5 years as well as a heartfelt note expressing our thanks and gratitude. I still am meaning to write a letter to her licenser, but haven't yet.
I promise you she does not need or want any "thing".. Instead consider giving her and her family an adventure..
A day at the Zoo with a picnic.. An evening out at a nice restaurant and tickets to an event. A family membership to a museum, water park.. Whatever they would enjoy..
I am sure whatever you give her will be great, but I have many, many friends that are in the childcare business or are teachers and they have stuff up to their ears..
A photo of her with the kids at Portrait Innovations maybe, a weekend getaway at a hotel for 1-2 in a special town nearby or just at LaQuinta or anywhere, your choice-prepaid.
Lunch in the Zidiac room at Neiman's downtown dallas.
A dozen long stem red roses, candy and a special card with a note?
I was a daycare provider for years. The little token gifts with photos of the kids etc are great. But they are just another item to dust. after a month or so it starts to get shoved to the back of the shelf and within 2 its in a drawer. within a year or so its in a box in the garage and after that it finally ends up in a garage sale. each time you see it you think fondly of the kids but really if your a daycare provider you don't have space to keep up photos and doodads from all the kids you have cared for. I always had a couple of those photo collage frames up. and also had a nice big photo album to keep a photo of each of the kids in. one of the other posters suggested a family pass to somewhere. this is a great idea. a nice dinner out also a great idea. a card from your child is nice but monetary amounts cannot be discounted. they are always greatly appreciated.
a scrapbook of the girls as they were growing up. and leave a couple pages for her to add pictures of the girls as you could send them to her thru out the years!!
You are a special person to cherish this woman in your lives. I am a provider and have been going on 5 yrs. I have only twice gotten a gift and it was both from two separate single gals. I like charms and maybe one with the kids pics in it or locket would be fun. Being a provider is hard work, espcially when you have a lot of kids to watch all at once with differernt temperments and such. Thank you for being that special women to realize that.G. W
You can make a photo book fairly cheap at CVS and other places. I would suggest having your kids come up with some favorite memories and favorite things they did with her to put in the book as well.
Well I think what Kellie said was a great suggestion.
OR, something from Things Remembered would be really nice for a longtime memory. I was a daycare provider for 15 years. Something that would last forever would be very special. An engraved frame, keychain, throw, A note written by you from the children in a special trinket box she could use forever.
I would have loved these things.
L.
Hi L.,
What about letting your girls pick out flowers for a bouquet, and having them put their handprints on a vase?
t
Hi L.,
How about planning a whole day with your family where you and your family do everything for her and her family. Spend the day at a water park, zoo,museum, hiking/biking whatever you are all into then you bring everything. If that is out of your budget invite her and her family to your home for a cookout (or a sit down dinner if you prefer) then make decorations and get flowers (she can take them home). You said she is a part of your family so make it a family get together just don't forget to make a card to send home.
It's nice that you are doing this for her. I'm very certain it will mean a lot to her!
Best Wishes.
We have purchased a beautiful heart necklace for her, and told her the kids (and us) will always keep in our hearts. Every time we see her, she still has the necklace on (and it has been close to 3 years since we have given it to her).
