Gifts for Childcare Workers

Hi H.,
I don't think it's ever too early to think about Christmas gifts as I constantly pick them up throughout the year. But nevertheless I gave pics of my children last year along with a mug full of peppermint and I received great feedback. I think the pics add a personal touch.

I have worked in a childcare center. One Christmas I got a few pics of kids with magnets to put on my fridge... it was sweet. I have also gotten gift cards for my husband and I to go out for dinner. Good luck with whichever route you choose!!

I am a teacher and a mom. I do think the childcare thing is always harder because of more teachers. One gift that came to mind is to have a lunch brought in (either homemade or catered) or bring in several dessers/snacks that they can snack on throughout the day. That always thrills us at our school!
R.

I am sure they would love something personal, How about a photo coffee/tea mug with your child's pix, stuffed with speciality hot choc mix, tea bag, choc. kisses, peppermints, and a small christmas ornament, all wrapped in cellophane and tied with a pretty bow. That way, it stays economical, you can make several cups from one box or bag of each ingredient, and you are giving each one the same thing and not playing favorites. Make up extras with discount store cups for your hairdresser, the mailman, etc. Everyone loves a kiss and cup of coffee, hot chocolate or tea....

I find that bath and body goes over well with my kids teachers, tutors, etc. To make sure that sensitive skin isn't an issue, I give all natural soap that contains no harsh chemicals or lye such as that found at www.sudsywudsysoap.com

Since you are looking at something for around 7 people, you might think about getting them a Christmas ornament, nothing too expensive. Maybe you could get some that you could put your child's picture into?? We actually did some of the homemade saltdough ornaments and the kids painted for their teachers one year

I was in a very similar sitation with my daughter. Honestly, I couldn't afford to buy individual gifts for everyone so she and I created a relaxation gift basket. We filled it with sample size lotions and creams (from Bed, Bath and Beyond...usually right near the checkout counter), decorative coffee mugs with flavored coffee (from the dollar store), music compilations (downloaded from my PC), and homemade cookies in individually wrapped celephane. My daughter made individual artwork which I just put in an envelope addressed to each of her teachers. It was quite a nice presentation and was well-appreciated! All told, minus some of the extra ingredients I bought for the cookies, it cost me under $40.

I would give each worker a small lotion nicely wrapped.
Check out my website at www.marykay.com/mforeman24.
I have great gift ideas - check out the body care section.
I can help you find a consultant in your area if you see anything you like. (Check out the Mint lotion - there is no better gift for someone that has been on their feet all day.) You can find similar products at Wal-mart & the $ Store. :)

M.

Hello H.,

My name is H.. I run a small homebased daycare and I was reading your advice letter. On the gifts my parents do both donate books, puzzles, dolls, play food. I have alot of my kids give me pictures of them in a small frame. I love each one as they are my own.. I am sure what ever you give they will like and thank you for it.

Something a little personal but not too personal that I find everyone likes and can use is photo frames.There are some nice ones that your child can help decorate (4X6)and they won't cost an arm and a leg for seven people. There are frame kits at HObby Lobby, WalMart and Michaels where you might get some good ideas. They can put pictures of whomever they like in them, however, when I had a preschool class, I really did appreciate when a parent gave photos of my students because I knew the school photos were limited and they had to chooes special people in their children's lives for sharing them.

H.:

I like to get "teachers" of all sorts (ballet teachers, mothers day out ladies, sunday school) something they can really use, or use up rather than something that will sit around and collect dust, considering how many gifts they probably get in their careers. Also I think of something that the kids can help pick out and can be consdiered from the kid rather than just from you. Things like: cute fun socks from target (letting kids pick them out), nice travel size beauty products like aveda, candles. Or have the kids make them things like ornaments or bracelets that you can get kits for from a craft store; Of course baked goods are always a hit, and can be fun for everyone to make together. I also have given a card with the kids' picture on it, sometimes in a frame so that the frame is reusable and they get the picture for as long as they want it. For people who own facilities I might get something they can use there, like kids books for preschool teachers.

I have thought about the books for adults thing before, but they are so hard to pick out and can tend to send the wrong message, and since people who work with kids don't have alot of on the job time for reading up on work, they would have to read about it in their spare time and who wants to do that? Gift cards to a bookstore/coffee shop are always good, but can really add up considering that you don't want to put $5 on a gift card :)

I do know that they appreciate your thoughtfulness in giving them gifts, and it is a wonderful way to sincrely express you appreciation of the loving care they give your family. A good lesson to teach your kids too, about why and how and who we give gifts to.

Good luck ...
A.

ok here was the best gift we received when i worked for a center

a mom bought all kinds of stuff and put it in a bag for the center. i did this as a mom last year at a different center. and they loved it.

i bought a rubbermaid cont. with a lid and filled it with stuff for activities. ex.

consrtuction paper, white paper, blue, markers, stickers, those little balls that the use for like noses, the eyes, look at some of the work they have done and see what you can find on the clearance rack fist. i eve n bought thoses foam strickers, and i shoped at hudsons and found tons of stuff and it looked like i spent tons but i know it was under $40 for sure and that way all the teachers got some things to use. you can even throw in some headach med. because you know they will use it.

hope this helps
B.
mom of 2

As a teacher, I always appreciate things that are special(picture of or artwor, ornament, etc. made by the child) or something useful. Some of the useful things I received were gift cards to anywhere, lotions, homemade goodies (jams, cookies, party mix, etc.), bag for carrying school materials, etc. I also LOVED getting items for the classroom. Teachers spend A LOT of their money buying items for the classroom and having someone else get some is always a nice gift. I always appreciated the things I got, but I would steer away from jewelry(unless you know each of their personal tastes) or knick-knacks to sit around. I always appreciated them, but after a while ran out of room for things and jewelry is very much a personal thing that varies greatly with each individual so it's hard to get something everyone will like. Christmas ornaments are good. You can find some really nice ones at Target. Hope this helps!

Hi H.,

As a former caregiver at a preschool, pictures are always well received. I had one child make me a card with their hand print and had a picture in the middle of the print, it was very special. Also so moms gave me cookies, candy, homemade fudge, bath stuff, candle, money, gift card. I know you're wanting to do something special without spending a ton of money. The book thing is a great idea for the preschool and the director would greatly appreciate it, and most teachers wouldn't mind, but if you did that you might want to at least write a thank you note to the teachers telling them how much they mean to your dd. Those are always treasured too. Hope I helped.

What about a Christmas ornament-simple, inexpensive and can be used and then put away, and pulled out every year and they will remember your child! You could write Merry Christmas 2008 with love, (child's name) with a perm. marker on the bottom or back. Thoughtful, personal, simple. I taught pre-school for 3 years, not many of the moms did Christmas gifts, but it was always nice to be remembered. Don't do cheap candy-I got lots of that and it was just wasted-do nice candy or none at all. I know they will appreciate the thought you put into it! God Bless!

If it were me,and I had that many people to buy for,I would probably make up a large gift basket of things you know they need/want-ie: your book idea....I don't know where you're at,but, here we have The Dollar Tree-you could go there and stock up on things-extra baby wipes,puzzles,stickers,colors,books,markers,baby powder,etc...Alot of daycare places only have things because the teachers or the directors purchase them themselves....get some of the plastic shrinkwrap,attach some pretty ribbon,then attach a pretty notecard that says:"Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to [name of daycare] From [DDs name]! Hope this helps to liven your Holiday Spirit!" something like that....;)

Well to me giving a picture of your child is a little weird. I saw a parent give a pic of their child to my son's kindergarten teacher once, it was just strange. Why would a teacher want a pic of your child? I don't know, maybe just me.

Why not bake some things and make a gift basket? I do this every year. The baskets are not huge, and I have even used the nice gift bags. I always put a little something personal in there too. Maybe a candle, a figurine of what they like, etc etc.

I have small loaf pans and I make a variety of quick breads, some cookies, etc etc.

These go over very well.

T.
http://www.wellnessiseasy.com

I would avoid the picture idea. I'm always receiving pictures of others kids, and I really don't care for them! I don't have room for my own daughters photos!

A few ideas would be:
Pedicures or Mani's (if you buy several you will get a discount)
A lunch catered in for them during school hours (could be just a sandwich tray)
Buy their holiday party cake!
Gourmet mixes or your own creation for them to make to take to holiday parties! (get vintage containers from the flea market that they can serve them in. CHEAP!)
Go in with other Mom's to get much needed supplies, toys, playground items, or
get a gardener to put in a butterfly garden and a bench for the kids to care for.
Do they have an aquarium in your child's class? Cheap and fun for the kids & teacher!
How about a kit that grows live butterflies?

I've received the mug-candy idea, photos, kid made items, they just gather dust and get in
the way! You've got the time to do something REALLY COOL! Use it! They'll never forget!

Oriental trading company sells very inexpensive kits where you can make several crafts out of one kit. You could help your son make homemade Christmas tree ornaments. I was a teacher, and I still love to hang the homemade ornamenets my students gave me. They are super easy to make, and very cute. It is also a great place to buy little gifts for the students if your school does that. The little craft kits are great for room mothers too. The students can make them during class with room parent's help. The web site is
Orientaltradingcompany.com

Well not to plug my business but I am a Mary Kay consultant and they have some great gifts and as a past childcare worker lotions and things like that make great gifts because they wash there hands alot. feel free to email if you would like help. ____@____.com

Hi H.,
I love to get stuff from Oriential Trading-they have TONS of frame/photo ornament kits and some are less than 50cents each! Plus your DD (with your help) could put the ornaments together(nice Rainy day project if they are old enough)then you could use a marker and write her name on the back and date the ornament/frame put a picture of her inside(if she's old enough let her choose the photo even).
Most of the kits they have include enough materials to make a Dozen-whatevers :-) so you could also include Aunts/Uncles and Cousins or send one to the Peditrician.
Point=if you need 7 for caregivers you'd have a few extra you could give to other "special" people in her life.
Our Daughter almost wasn't and thanks to my GP being on HIS toes we got her here safely-so I send them a pic at the office as a 'thank you' every holiday. I'm probably sending them an ornament w/ her pic in it for Christmas this year. I get ones that are cute enough that I want to put them on MY tree-in our house and use any "extras" at home :-).
Hope this helps. Good Luck-and NO I Don't think it's too early to be thinking about this.:-)
C.

I know that it is not Christmas - but we are doing a mini dvd at the end of the year for our pre-k teacher - ( when I say we I mean the other homeroom mom and me) - it will be of the kids a different times throughout the year - along with some other stuff -

my daughter is now 11 and she loves to go back and visit the lady they kept her as a baby.

I love the other ideas that you have gotten - like the gift basket - I also think that it is neat to do "smaller stuff" during the year - this is the time that they are not getting a ton of other stuff and might need a small thanks for the great job

i realize you have received many great ideas already, but since i have a home-based daycare i just had to respond! anything you do will be wonderful, and please include a picture of your child. i cherish my daycare kids past and present. i really really liked the idea of one of the other mommies to bring or cater lunch. you could include a christmas card for each of them with a picture. if they work separate shifts you could still work that out. just your thoughtfulness speaks volumes. i pour my heart and soul into 'my kids' and often feel very unappreciated only because i think everyone is too busy to stop and state a meaningful 'thank you for loving my child'. any acknowledgement will be appreciated and never forgotten!

I have worked in childcare before. I wouldn't worry about spending alot of money unless you have it. I would make them something. Whether it be baked goods or something useful. Especially when you have that many to think of. I know it's nice to just be remembered and thought of.

Homeschooling (mom of 3)
A.

I think pictures are a great idea. The center where my daughter used to go had pictures of the kids all over the place. Also, giving the center some new toys/books is a great way to say thank you. Check out www.toycubby.com for some great educational toys/games that are life time guaranteed. In a day care facility, that guarantee means a lot with all the kids that will be playing with the toys/games.
J.