Inexpensive Gift Ideas for My Daycare kids...Can Anyone Help

Why not make fleece scarfes? I bought a peice of fleece for $5 cut it to size & done! You can make fringes too & all you need is to cut them about 1 inch apart & 2-3 inches long.

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how about color books and new crayons, bubble bath, playdough (is buy one get one free at toys r us today). how about taking a picture of each kid and make some kind of ornament. how about gift card to mcdonalds?

I worked at this woman's homedaycare and she was signed up through Scholastic Books like the schools are. The kids could order books as well as her all throughout the year. By Christmas time she usually had earned enough points or something and got all the kids in her daycare a couple of books for free or low cost with her points she had earned. They are great books and the families loved them. She was great at picking out specific books that matched the kids personality etc.

I say get the kids books it's a great gift, educational and won't get thrown in a corner or tossed out. Otherwise for 5bucks you can't get anything but junk. You could write each kid a personalized message inside too.

My daughter loves her books, and no longer goes to the daycare but she still rememember my daughter each year with a few books at her annual xmas party.

What about giving the kids a nice Ball? My daughter got a polka done one at a birthday party a few years ago and still plays with it.

Playdough or crayons/paper always get used.

Michaels has a dollar section (stocking stuffers) in the front of the store. I found wind-up bugs, fish, butterflies, scuba guys, etc. They are sooooo cute! My son just loves it. You could also include a few tubes of playdoh (6 or 8 for a $1 at Michaels). There are so many other things to choose from, coloring, crafts, balls, pencil cases, etc. I would look there first.
Otherwise you could do a $5 gift card to Blockbuster and a box of candy for the older kids.

I just love the Leapfrog line of toys. There is "bingo" game that teaches colors, shapes, animals etc and it is great for 2-5 year olds. I got it on sale at Target for $5!! They also have a learning version of dominoes for the same age range. Also, look on Amazon.com. Under toys they have a section for up to 70% off. I found great deals, like Boggle Jr. (all new of course) for $4, Family Cranium for $9 etc and it was free shipping for orders of $25+. But I really love those Leapfrog things. If you other moms haven't tried them, the "Letter Factory" and "Word Factory" DVD's are GREAT for teaching kids letters and how to put them together. My son who just turned 2 learned the whole alphabet in about 3 sittings watching the DVD. I just love those products!

There's a few inexpensive really fun toys too. How about a small playdough set or an etch-a-sketch travel size or the travel magna doodle? I bought those this year and know they are all around $5. Or there's travel doodle bears and doodle girls. Again around $5. All creative fun toys. And as with everyone else books are awesome!!!

Last year my son got slippers from his daycare provider. That was really cool. We have also been given bath toys.

We NEVER get tired of books, but this year we are putting together gift bags for my son's friends filled with PlayDoh (we got a box of 24 canisters at Target), Christmas cookie cutters (craft section of WalMart), and an inexpensive ornament craft (can be bought in bulk at just about any craft store). Good luck!

Walmart right now has a 5-pack of hotwheels cars on sale for less than $4.00 - young boys usually love cars. They also have a multipack of playdoh for under $2.00. Chapstick is always a good thing to throw in for the girls. Good Luck & happy holidays!

Certainly I'm a little biased, since I'm an Usborne consultant, but I never tire of books! It's something you can never have too many of, and is a quality item you would be glad to have your kids play with. Usborne has tons of books at $4.99 - some even less in the board books! And shipping is only $5 from my website (or 8%, whichever is greater). Order by Dec 17 for Christmas delivery. www.ubah.com/g2687.
Aside from books, I think art supplies are always welcome - whether it's play dough, markers, crayons and coloring book, activity books, lacing cards, etc. These are things that get "used up" and need replacing once in awhile - and parents don't always think to replenish! Good luck and happy shopping!

You could always make something like homemade playdoh or bathtub crayons. Kaboose.com or familyfun.com should have tons of recipes for homemade art supplies that only cost pennies and aren't really that difficult to make.
K. H

Walgreens has some really cute toys 3 for $11.98. I just picked up a few for my daughters gift exchange at school and Sunday school. Some of them are junk but many are very cute. For girls, they had little porcelin tea sets, A princess backpack with art supplies, a knock of version of my little pony set which gives you 2 big ponies and the accessories (very cute). Check it out.

HI my kids get a McDonalds gift card for christmas every year and they love it.

I would get them each a book. They'll love it and it will give them something special to do with Mom and Dad. Plus it's also inclusive of any other kids in the house.
Happy Holidays,
J.