I am trying to figure out what to give my child care provider for the holidays. I am leaning towards cash or a gift card, but I don't know what amount to give. Any advice or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!
Thanks to everyone who responded. We ended up giving our provider cash in the amount of a week's pay in a nice card.
We always do a spa gift certificate - our child care provider loves it and it forces her to do something for herself (she spends her life taking care of our kids!). We do $50 for both of the ladies that watch them.
-T.
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I give $10 gift cards to all my kids teachers, either that or starbucks. I used to get little gifts, but then started realizing that they probably get about 10 little gifts per year = TONS of junk!!! I figured a gift card would be much better. As for a childcare provider though, I'd say money or a $25-50 gift card to a restaurant!
I've heard several different consensus. Most have been a bonus of an extra weeks pay.
But, as a provider, anything that acknowledges her is great. It really is the fact that you respect her and all that she does for you.
I have given spa gift certificates. It forces your child care provider to get a massage or pampering pedicure just for herself. If you know this type of gift will not be used, give a restaurant gift certificate at a place she would feel is a special outing.
We usually do gift cards to the grocery store or Tastefully Simple gift collections are nice too! Our philosophy: everyone eats!
As a former child care provider first and foremost it really and truly is the thought that counts. I have been given numerous different things that I still love and cherish today. Some of my families have given me things as simple as an ornament for my tree such a photo ornament or something that their child really liked and had picked out to remind me of the fun times we had together. Others have given gift cards to some of my favorite stores...and yes a couple have given me so much as a full weeks pay.
I'm not sure what your child care situation is, but if its a home day care... and they provide the food for your little one I would steer clear of grocery store gift cards. The reason I say this is that yes they would definitely be able to use it... everyone can, but nine times out of ten they will end up using it to provide food for the children. In this case if your going the gift card route I would definitely go more for something she will use for herself! A gift card to her favorite store, for a massage, or a nice restaraunt that serves her favorite foods. In my personal opinion it means more when its a little more personalized and that its not just going back to the children. Hope this might help some. Happy Holidays!
I've given gift cards to our child care provider, anywhere from $50-100. We also periodically give her gift-cards throughout the year. People we know usually give us gift cards, and we've "re-gifted" them sometimes knowing we were likely not going to have the opportunity to use the gift-card.
We usually will give her a gift-visa you can get at the bank, that way she can use it for whatever she wants and doesn't have to go go a specific store to use it. On rare occasions, we'll give her a gift card to her favorite pizza place (Puccini's) or to where she gets her hair cut.
The benefit to giving her gift cards for stores (like maybe Target) is they usually don't charge an activation fee like getting a gift-visa will (of usually $2-$3 depending on where you get it). BUT if you get a gift visa, they can shop online and not worry about their credit card being stolen from a retailer's site being hacked.
We've also given several different visa's in varying amounts ($10 in gas cards, $25 for Kroger, $25 for Steak-n-Shake, $25 gift visa).
For what it's worth...
