How much is appropriate holiday gifts for daycare teachers

[Anonymous]

There are 4 teachers in my infant room, two that are closer to my DS, though the other two are very sweet. I want to give them each a check for the holiday since I know they all could probably use the extra cash. How much is appropriate? If you are giving could you say how much? (even if it's a gift certificate). I know what I can afford, but I don't want to over give/under give. Is there an assumed standard?

I appreciate any thoughts...

[Anonymous]

I average between $40 and $60 each. Depends on a lot of factors.

[Anonymous]

I have done $50 for the main teachers and $25 for the others. I think that's pretty standard at our daycare, and when talking to friends that seems to be about average.

[Anonymous]

Wow, DD has 3 main teachers, and then 4 or 5 other people that watch her in aftercare. There is no way I could do $40 each!

We do $25 cash for the head teacher and $20 for the assistants. And, then a small box of chocolate for the aftercare people

[Anonymous]

Okay, our twins will start daycare on 12/12. Should I be thinking about holiday gifts for the teachers? Director? The director has been very nice and helpful as she gave us the interview/tour months ago when we interviewed our top 5 daycares and she's helped with questions we've had while we've been filling out the application forms, etc.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

18:16 - no - definitely no gift for the teachers when your twins have just started. Maybe send a card to the school/director if it has a pic of your kids, maybe cookies or other treats if you're otherwise making them. Don't feel obligated. If you'd like to do something mid-year, maybe a small thank you gift/bonus when your kids move up to the next classroom.

[Anonymous]

Our daughter's birthday is in November (so she switched rooms a couple of weeks ago) so we now have the three teachers in her previous room and the two in her new room to give a gift to this year. In addition, we have our second daughter starting in the infant room in a couple of weeks (so right before Christmas). I am kind of overwhelmed at the thought of all of it. We don't have tons of money at the moment (my maternity leave was mostly unpaid) so I would welcome suggestions.

[Anonymous]

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".

[Anonymous]

At my daycare all the parents chip in around $40 and it is split among the teachers center wide - ends up being around $100 per teacher, or a little more, assuming everyone gives.

[Anonymous]

18:16 back again. Thanks to those who responded for me (sorry to hijack the thread). I will make some holiday cookies to take to the staff. That will make me feel better.

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

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).

[Anonymous]

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.

I don't think you're overdoing it. From what I've read on these boards, it's pretty standard to give a week's pay/cost at the holidays. My kids are at an in-home daycare, so we don't have the multiple teacher issue, but I'll be giving $250 -- the cost of one kid for one week (we have 2 kids there, but I really can't justify $500 as a gift -- that's more than I spend for everyone else combined.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have done $50 for the main teachers and $25 for the others. I think that's pretty standard at our daycare, and when talking to friends that seems to be about average.

Us too.

[Anonymous]

Do you give a gift to ALL the teachers who might somehow be involved with your child throughout the day? I have 2 kids who get to daycare at 6.30. They both go to opening rooms with teachers who are not their regular teachers. We get those teachers gifts, even though they only see our children for 1/2 hour a day. We also get gifts for the floaters who don't always see our kids daily. We also get the food prep ladies gifts b/c my kids are vegetarian and we send in their lunches, so those women prep it.

Are we going overboard (it's pricey) or doing the right thing?