Idea for Xmas Gifts ?

V.,
Let me tell you what I am doing for my children's school and daycare teachers. Tastefully simple has a wonderful apple cake that is easy to make. I am buying a box of that and it requires two apples for the recipe. I am wrapping it in the pretty cellophane christmas paper and tying it with a ribbon. It is a wonderful change from "an apple for a teacher" and it cost under $10 for everything, even the wrapping. You can look at www.tastefullysimple.com.

V.,

Caregives love to be cared for too! So, a gift certificate for her nails/toes to be done would be great! Or certificates to pizza and a movie. Anything that they can treat themselves to would be awesome! Just my thoughts!

I'm making a treat bowl for my daughter's teacher. I am going to find a popcorn type bowl at the dollar store and fill it with some microwave popcorn, candy, munchies and maybe a gift card for like 10 dollars to the video rental place. K.

V.,
OMG before i even read the responses I was thinking tastefully simple too! I have a lady my personal consultant I have been using her for 3yrs. Heres her number ###-###-#### her name is belinda. Tell her T. gave you this she'll laugh (im always giving out her number LOL)
I swear by this stuff b/c I can't cook. All the stuff is add one or two things.
I however do enjoy the Nana's apple cake (as suggested by the other person) But i recomend the beer bread. It is awesome smells like you spent hours making. you add one can of beer mix for 30sec and bake for 50mins
Hope this helps!

Hi, V.. My all-time favorite gifts to give (that aren't too expensive) are candles. Even Family Dollar has some really wonderful smelling ones that dress up so nicely in a fancy little gift bag. You can also purchase them at Bath & Body Works (White Barn Candle Company) and Yankee Candle at many Hallmark stores, which are alittle more expensive. I buy alot of my candles online also. There are so many talented homemade candle-makers out there. In fact, I've even thought about trying to make some myself.

Hi V.,

I think it's wonderful that you want to give gifts to your child's caregivers. I always appreciated gifts from the moms whose kids I cared for, but consumables were my favorite. I have a ton of coffee mugs and bath products that I hardly ever use. Here are some of my ideas:

Gift cards are always welcome, but I encourage you to try to think outside the box. If you know something about your child's caregivers, you can personalize the gift card even more. For instance, are they doing work on their house? Give a gift card from Home Depot or Lowe's. Redecorating? Give Bed, Bath, and Beyond or Linens and Things. Love coffee? Beaner's or Starbucks. Chocolate lover? Godiva. Clean freak? Car wash gift certificates/club cards or Molly Maids/Merrymaids. Need to relax? Massage gift certificates (don't forget to include the tip). Educators? Give a gift certificate to Holcomb's KnowPlace or some other store that sells educational materials.

If she's pressed for time with her own family, how about a gift card to the movies? These can be used at the concession stands, as well. Also consider a gift basket from Tastefully Simple (tastefullysimple.com). They have lots of gifts that contain everything needed for a quick, yet delicious, family meal. Also, check on wolfermans.com for ideas on breakfast gift baskets. Check out these sites as well: seescandies.com; godiva.com; and hickoryfarms.com. There are several advantages to these websites. You can pick a gift basket that's already made up for you or personalize one for the recipient. Many offer gift services like a personalized gift card with your message on it, holiday ribbons and wrap, and they'll ship directly to the recipient!

Good luck!

V.,

As a teacher myself, I always appreciate hand made gifts from my students. Teachers get very attached to "their kids"! :) Personal items and sweets may not be a good idea. Some people are sensitve to fragrances or are diabetic. A gift certificate to Barnes & Noble is always a good idea. Don't spend a lot.

Hi, I would suggest a pretty candle, a small, cute picture frame, a journal, delicious chocolate, at Lindt(chololate store) they have these cute holiday dishes filled with chocolate. Maybe a gift certificate to Borders or Barnes N Noble. Hope this ideas are helpful
D.

As a childcare worker for over years..I can say that anythiong is appreciated, but not necessary. Although if you plan to get gifts, I liked the bath and body works stuff best, and g.c. to restaurants. If you are on a tight budget, have your daughter make something with you, that stuff is always really cute too and it adds a personal touch to the gift..

maybe you could just order a pizza lunch one day for everyone? or some other group gift? that way you do not feel like you are leaving anyone out-and maybe a special card/token gift to the specific ones who deal with your child? just an idea-good luck!

I've given things like bath products, candles, or one year we took up a collection from the class and got the teacher a gift certificate to a garden center. OH...a gift cert. to Borders book store is ALWAYS a good idea, they have such a variety of thing to choose from there, book, dvd, music cds etc...

Hope that helps!

S.

As a caregiver I can say that you should not feel obligated to buy gifts but most caregivers will appreciate any gift. I can say that in the past my favorite gifts to get from the kids I watch are crafts made by older kids, ornaments, pictures of the child/family, etc. The meaningful gifts or keepsake type gifts are my favorite. Most caregivers get very attached to kids and it is so nice to pull out those types of gifts at christmas time and remember each child and how special they are. I would say that typically about 1/2 the parents will buy stuff and half wont so once again don't feel obligated but if you want to do something I would stick to the small meaningful/keepsake type stuff.

V.,

I am like you. I always get my kids teachers/daycare providers something.
What I found that really works is..AVON.
I sell Avon so what I do is order a bunch of the mini lotions, bubble baths, emery boards, shower gels..anything Christmas decorated and I buy little mini stockings (Target) and make up cute little stockings stuffed with the goodies.
I have had great responses to them.

Cyndi

Here's what I got once when teaching and we are doing this this year for my daughter's preschool teacher. Buy a mug, put a package of hot chocolate, 6 hersey kisses, a candy cane, and 15 or so mashmellows. But it all in the mug and then she can mix it together whenever she wants and have snowman soup. It's really good, really cheap, and then she has a mug out of the ordeal. And I promise a teacher can't have enough mugs.

Since many teachers already have their fill of embroidered sweaters and apple decorations, useful items like gift certificates, cookbooks, or food are always nice. Bath & Body Works makes very nice antibacterial moisturizing hand soap that also goes over well with those who have to wash their hands a million times a day! (I've found that soap gets used, but lotion does not...)

Best of luck! Happy Holidays!

I'm not sure how much you are looking to spend but I would recommend ____@____.com have the cutest Christmas things including personalized Christmas bulbs. You'll have to check it out and they are not expensive either. Sure you will get them before Christmas as they are fast at shipping too. I've dealt with them several times. If that isn't an option Bath and Body always has cute things made up that I would like to receive myself. Good luck and Merry Christmas

Books for classroom are always a good idea for teachers no matter what age level. Also my sons preschool has offered contribute to the schools ellison dye cuts fund in the teachers name. You may want to check with the school.
Happy Holidays
J.

Being a daycare working for almost 8 years now... I have gotten things from a plate of cookies, cards and pictures of the children, tree ornimates, gift certificates, "teacher" items ( best teacher things needed in the room; pens, little stickey notes ect.)

Last year I took card stock, put my sons hand print and poem about each teacher on it and then used foam stuff from the craft store to make a frame and decorate it. This year I baught little wood snow flakes from Micheals and my son is going to paint them and decorate them and then we are going to tie string to them. They were 39 cents each so it's very inexpensive.

I don't know how much you like to cook or if you get into doing gifts like this. This year I'm making boxes (I'm using cake boxes from "Michael's") and I'm putting a couple of mini-breads, a small jar of jam, a small jar of pepperming hot chocolate mix, and some cookies. I'm planning on wrapping it up as pretty as I can manage...we'll see. I don't know if money is an issue or not, but you can buy really great things for gift baskets at Crown Tower Coffee in Appleseed Shopping Center (that's in Mansfield) , they will even make the baskets up for you. You can also easily scale something like this down as small as you need it to be using mugs or smaller baskets or holiday tins. You can buy celaphane wrapping paper that you use a hairdryer to shrink around the gift and it looks really professional. I love doing stuff like this, so if you like this idea and want more ideas just let me know.

I usually get the small bottles at Bath & Body and then a gift card to Starbucks.

They aren't allowed cash, but they are allowed gift cards. If they are young, how about an ipod gift card (can download music with it,) or what about movie theater gift certificates. I went to Bath and Body works and got stuff there for my kids' dance teachers and Brownie leaders. They have handsoaps 4 for $10. I got their regular providers gift certificates.

I work in a day care to and we are all getting gift cards for gas and candles and to bath and body works. That is what everyone said to get them from my daycare and I work at Kindercare in westerville. I hope that help

Thanks D.

I am a teacher, albeit not a daycare or preschool teacher but high school. Perhaps my situation is a little different, as I deal with older kids, but if I were you, I'd avoid the homemade food route at all costs. It's not that I don't enjoy baked goods and the like; there's a bit of risk involved in eating something a student presents to you (again, I teach high school kids so different crowd). I never consume homemade foods given by students/parents as gifts (but I do write them a thank you note).

Things that are good - gift certificates (can be as simple as to the grocery store, Target, Borders), antibacterial hand soaps, movie tickets. I don't know about other teachers, but it is also somewhat awkward to receive expensive gifts or gift cards, so don't feel like you have to go overboard.

The most important and meaningful thing you can do is, write a very nice note thanking the teacher for what he or she has done for your child (use specifics if possible). To me, that means way more than any gift could ever offer.

Hi, I am new to the site, I have just been browsing a couple times a week. I am excited to offer my suggestion to help you out...I think I have a great idea for you...You could purchase coffee mugs, maybe more like big latte or soup mugs and fill it with goodies. I did this in the office I work and it went over very well. We filled the soup mug with a couple of flavored hot chocolates, one pack of french vanilla coffe and a couple candy canes and hershey kisses. The total was about $6-$7 per person. It was put in a nice gift bag. Even if they are not fond of coffee or hot choc, they will have it in the house for the holidays for guests or visitors. Just an idea