How much is appropriate holiday gifts for daycare teachers

Anonymous
FYI at my daycare we have a primary teacher who is responsible for the room, plus a helper or two.

In addition to that, the kids float to other rooms throughout the day, depending on their main teachers' schedules (my 3yo's class is consolidated in the AM and then his class splits around 9am; my toddler's class is separate in the AM but consolidates with the two's room in the afternoon).

On top of that, whenever there are sick days, etc., there are floaters who work in any number of classrooms, and the teachers themselves will mix it up and help each other out. It's not usual for my preschool son's teacher to be helping out with the toddlers every once in a while, for example.

Last year I asked the director what to do - I recognize the floaters, but I don't know all of their names, and I didn't know what was appropriate for gifts. She told me not to worry about it, that they are taken care of, and to just worry about the main teacher. In addition, we have 3 directors, and I don't think I gave them gifts last year. I definitely gave the main teachers substantial gifts (I think $80 each?) and the consistent secondary teacher(s) slightly smaller gifts ($40 or $20?). I might have given a pile of cash to the director (like $100) and asked her to distribute it amongst the floaters...
Anonymous
I found this post timely and then wondered what is allowed. You may want to ask the daycare director what is appropriate. We actually got an email this week regarding holiday gifts. We were asked not to give monetary gifts to the teachers but small gift cards, food, etc. would be appropriate. I would definitely check the policy on this before doing anything and thank you to the fomer daycare staff member - your post was helpful!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Wow - I feel like I've really overdone it in the past. I've always taken a week's cost of daycare and divided it between her teachers. This year DD has 4 teachers. There are two that are with her all day - I planned to give them $80 each. There are 2 that are with DD in the late afternoons until pickup - I had thought $50 each.

But, I hate to give less because I've given that much in years past. I save $X each month and at the end of the year divide it out more based on the number of hours spent with my child each day (if it's only 2 or 3, that would be different than someone spending 8 hours with DD).


I'm sorry, but holiday gifts are not mandatory. The teachers have no way of knowing whether your family has had any financial crises over the last year. If you had had a financial crises or if one of the financial earners had lost a job, had hours cut back, etc, wouldn't you have to cut back on holiday gifts? It's been a tough few years and no one knows your family financial situation. If they are going to judge you because you give a holiday gift, but it isn't as nice as last year's gift, then I'm not sure this is the type of person that I want to be teaching my children, otherwise you'll end up with a Dudley Dursley for a child. We donate a lot to charity at year's end, but the amount that we spend on holiday gifts and charitable donations each year is reflected on what our family budget is for that year. This year, having both taken a good portion of 3 months off work for FMLA uncompensated leave, our budget for holidays and charitable donations is significantly lower. Unfortunately, that means gifts are all smaller.
Anonymous
I feel weird giving them checks. It just seems very awkward and uncomfortable to me. I'm giving to the school's fund, divided among the teachers, and was planning to give a heartfelt card to each person in addition to maybe little gift cards.
Anonymous
I'm giving starbucks gift cards for about $10/each for 5 teachers. DD is 3 and goes to preschool for 2.5hrs a day 3X a week. I only want to give to two teachers who personally engage with me/her. The other three are floaters but I feel obligated to give equally.
Anonymous
We give $50 per teacher for full-time daycare/preschool.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:As a former daycare teacher, I'd say that most of what I got was things like: a $5 starbucks card, or cheap photo frame, or some fun new socks, or a heartfelt thank you note in a card with a picture of your kid, or a loaf of homemade cranberry bread. And all of them were appreciated. If you have the ability to spend more and want to help someone you like who you know makes very little, it's find to do so, but you're not under an obligation. A token gift that says "hey, we appreciate you" is absolutely fine.

I also wouldn't expect you to differentiate depending on how long I've taught your child, or whether I'm the lead or assistant, or how much your kid likes me. Frankly, I think that gets awkward fast. If you want to differentiate based on what you know about me (e.g. you know I have a young kid so you give me a $15 voucher to Toys R Us, whereas my childless co-worker who always comes in drinking coffee gets $15 to Starbucks) that's cool, but keep the amount the same.

Frankly I'd only give to my child's current teachers, and again it would be the same if they started last week or last year. The gift isn't payment for the work we've done, it's just a way of saying "we appreciate what you do, and consider you an important part of our community".


This is one of the most useful posts I've read in a long time. Thank you!


Agree. Thanks!!
Anonymous
I used to be a teacher assistant in the infant 1 room of a daycare center. Some of the stuff that both I and the head teacher received were star bucks gift cards ($25 each), some nice godiva and lindt chocolates, dunkin donuts gift cards ($25 each), picture frames with the babies picture in it, etc. 2 families did give us cash/check...one family gave us each a $50 bill in a very nice card and then the other family gave us each a $100 check which was VERY generous however we both did babysit on occasional weekends for their daughter so we were a bit closer with that particular family. The head teacher and I each got the same amount on the gift cards, cash and check. Even though I was the teacher assistant, I was still there EVERY DAY, 40 hours a week with the kids (not jumping around classroom to classroom), etc.
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