DayCare Teacher Christmas Presents...?

I am giving cash. Day care workers are so underpaid, that I think cash is the best option. The financial advice right now is to not give gift cards because there is no way of knowing which business is going to close next (though I would think that Giant Eagle or something like that would be safe. And really, which would you rather have, a gift card you have to spend somewhere, or cash you can do what ever you want with?

Because there are so many people to tip at the holidays, I've started my envelopes for the people I know will need tips (day care teachers, mailman, garbage men, hair dresser, etc.), and when I've got an extra couple of bucks in my pocket, I squirrel it into one of the envelopes. That makes the 3rd week in December a little less painful!

I asked my son to pay attention to what his teacher eats and drinks at snack time. He said that she told his class that she love pepsi so we plan on getting her a case of pepsi.

Hey there, I am a teacher and I agree- anything that's not teaching related is great, especially gift cards! Wawa, dunkin donuts, target, a mall, etc are always really awesome!

I am the only care provider in this home, but I can offer up ideas that I have recieved that I have loved.....Jar of kisses(hershey), Book that your child loves signed by them for the classroom, Cd, of music that everyone can enjoy, gas card, grocery card, cut out handprints of you child hand, and make ornaments.....with there pic attached...

How about a donation to Heifer International? you can buy a flock of chicks or hive of bees to donate to a family in another country, in your teacher's name. The flock or animal then helps them start a farm and become self-sufficient.

It is a graet gift for a group of teachers.

I was a Day Care teacher and a little something I still have was a plaque or picture with a personal inscription on it saying Thanks and how much they loved being in my class. I also got a needlepoint picture I still have up by the mom. Those two items did not cost much..laminate a personal letter from you and your child and put in a frame..Have great holiday..J. Loveless

A scratch off Christmasy lottery ticket in a nice card.

As a former daycare teacher I love the idea of something for the class room. I know at our school we were always in need of things like markers, crayons, paper etc. (which you could make into a gift basket). Another idea would be to talk to some of the other parents about splitting the cost of a more expensive gift. Some gifts we have received were gift cards to Walmart, local restaurants, and gift certificates to a local spa. By splitting the cost the parents were able to get thoughtful gifts without paying alot of money. I hope these ideas are helpful. Happy Holidays.

I was the director of a child care center for many years, the best gift that you can give to your child care provider is your sincere thank you and appreciation. A note that lets him/her know how much that you value the part they play in your child's life will mean so much (I have a scrap book of notes and cards i still pull out when I am having a bad day). That being said if you want to give a gift, gift cards are always appreciated by underpaided child care staff (and almost all childcare staff is underpaid).

Give cards are always good. Gift cards with some lotions or a candle in a gift bag.

I like to get my kids teachers a gift certificate to Beckers Teacher Store or Staples. Most of the time they are responsible for decorating their room and these gift certificates make it a little easier.

I am totally into scrapbooking. A very thoughtful, inexpensive way to give a gift, is to take pictures of the class, your son, teachers, etc. Make a photo album/scrapbook, that they can all cherish. You could incorporate pages of the students, have them make a card or write a comment about their teacher, or a small art project. You could have some of the other moms help co-ordinate everything.

Hi Ali,
I know several teachers and their feeling is "enough candles, potpourri, and mugs already!" LOL
I think a gift card is always a great idea and always well received. How about a grocery card, gas card, Panera Bread, Starbucks, etc? You can get it for any amount you choose and it will always be put to good use. You can put it in a nice card/gift card holder with a sentiment linking it to the gift. Example: (Gas card) A little something for fuel so you can get to work, where the kids LOVE you and need you! I think a heartfelt note about the great care they have provided is the thing that teachers and daycare workers appreciate the most!
A gift card to a craft store might be something they could use for future projects, as teachers often end up paying for that stuff themselves.

If you are doing something for the whole room you could do edible arrangements. They are very well received and they can also be delivered so that you don't have to worry about it. It can be done via the internet or phone. You could also do a little breakfast for them where you take in a small "spread". Nothing cheesy, but maybe a Panera thing or even Wegman's does some breakfast catering items. Last thought would be a small gift certificate to Starbuck's/Dunkin donuts...

Good luck! I am sure they will appreciate anything!
A.

Hello. I am a teacher in a daycare. Thank you for thinking of us! I can always use new supplies such as markers, crayons etc. A gift cert. to a teaching store is also always appreciated! Happy Holidays!

Every year I go to Target for my daycare teachers' presents because they have a nice selection of munchies. Our daycare is nut-free, so it limits some of the choices, but I usually get a large tin of cookies and a few tins of flavored popcorn or pretzel rods dipped in chocolate. I sign them from my family to all of the teachers because they all help out throughout the day when needed, and also that way, no one feels left out just because my son isn't in their class.

Hi,

This is a idea... Mary Kay Satin Hand Cream with a picture frame that as a picture of your son for the main Teacher and Mary Kay Satin Hand Cream in a mug. That would cost you $9.00 each. I am a Mary Kay Consultant and I would gift wrap it for you FREE, all you would have to do is sign the card and present it to them. You could visit my website www.marykay.com/fabulousjc and send me a message.

Hope my idea is GREAT for you.

Fabulousjc J.

As a former preschool special education teacher, I always enjoyed a gift certificate... don't worry if it is only for $10 or $15.... It's nicer than a candle or coffee mug I can't use. If the teachers are Christian, they may also like a christmas tree ornament. Every year when I decorate my tree I have memories of all the wonderful children and families that have entered my life.

Last yr I bought the teachers Wallflowers from Bath & Body Works when they were on sale for $5 each. They REALLY loved them and it wasnt expensive!
This yr I went to the Yankee Candle outlet and bought them gift sets and candles that were on sale. Ends up being about $5-$7 per teacher which still is good, I think. Im not sure where you are located but the Yankee outlet in Limerick is GREAT! You may want to give it a try!

How about these ideas...
A book or set of books for the classroom.

A subscription to a teacher/caregiver magazine.

A "breakfast" tray with danish, fruit, juices and coffee.

Gift card to a local craft store, discount store, book store.

A tote bag with your child's handprints painted on it.

Frame a handmade certificate that says something about teachers/caregivers being angels. "Stamp" your son's handprints on the certificate in the form of angel wings (fingers pointing down).

I was thinking a nice candle or something for them at home. How about a "teacher" tree ornament or mug for their coffee.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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Hi Ali,

When my boys were in daycare..I either pitched in with all the parents towards a king of prussia mall gift certificate (you may want to try and coordinate this - it was a huge hit and each parent only contributes a small amount). Another option - gift certificates to wawa!! The girls loved it since they went there every morning before work for coffee.

Hope this helps!

I worked in a daycare for many years. I can tell you a few things not to give. I was always appreciative of every present, but after receiving my 100th coffee mug with candy in it, my 100th candle, or my 100th 'teacher' ornament, I would always feel bad because I knew the coffee mug and candle would end up at Goodwill because I just didn't have room for that many of them nor do I even drink coffee. Oh yeah, and PLEASE, NO MORE lotion!!!!!!!!!

The best gifts I received were one that the kids made. Christmas ornaments are great as long as they are one that the child made themselves. I got bulb ornaments that the children had painted and they were so cute. Another great present I received was a frame that the child had decorated with a poem inside about how I had become a special person in their life. I'm sure both of those things can be done rather cheaply and are treasured.

Is it more important to you to spend $10 or $20 on something the teacher will really use/keep or spend $5 on something they will be throwing/giving away?

Another good idea is personalized note papers. Teachers can always use them! If you aren't into making things, I also always appreciated $20 cash in a card (remember daycare workers are VERY underpaid and every little bit counts-even $10 is great!)Or a giftcard to anywhere "safe". Another good gift is something you have baked (but leave out the cookies, we get SO many of them we end up giving them to the kids at snack, we could never eat them all) like banana bread or zuchinni bread.

Another gift to think twice about is a box of candy or cookies for the whole staff. Everyone does that and we end up with just too much. There was one parent who always brought in a hand-made fruit basket, and that WAS nice because we had so much junk to eat, the fruit always balanced it out!

I hope I don't sound unappreciative, but I just don't think it's worth wasting even just a little money on something that will end up being unused or thrown away!

5.00 dollar gift cards for wawa..anyone could use that at
this point

Hello Ali F.,

I used to work in the daycare field when my son was growing up. Now I am in the field that I love. That's office work. I must tell the truth, I loved working with the children for those four wonderful years. No one can take those precious memories from me. Now, about the holidays and gifts. Maybe I can give you a few suggestions to help in selecting that perfect gifts for your sons teachers. Some daycares do not have a fund for decorating their rooms. They bring decorations from home or the teachers pull together their funds themselves. When you look around your child's classroom you will notice that most of the walls are filled with teaching tools. Therefore you might want to consider a wreath or a snowman, or anything that might not take up to much space on their counter. Counter space is very important in our field. Making the babies formula to preparing their meals or their snacks. If they have stairs leading to your child's room or a hallway, then something that might go on the walls or doors might be nice. They usually have windows, so a packet of window stickee might also help. I know some teachers have used the spray foam and I personally find that hard to clean off. They do have window ornaments that hang on a hook attached to a plastic suction cup. If you want to give each teacher a personal gift, for about $3.00 you could give them an ornament with their names on it. Don't forget that there is in every area a store that sells everything for a dollar or a general store. They do sell nice figurines, like angels, snowman, penguins, and etc. Some of those figurines are beautiful and has lots of glitter on it. You might even check out the plaques, small picture frames with a picture or a poem in it, hot plates, dish towels, candles, or anything like that at the dollar store. You know that personally to receive something like this for ourselves, you always find a place for it in your home if it came from someone you love to be with. I must say most teachers love the little ones in their care. Especially if they have children of their own. I hope this helps in selecting a gift for that special teacher. I want to take this time now to wish you and your family a Happy Holiday. Your friend from Mamasource, Debbie.