Home daycare holiday bonus

[Anonymous]

What is the typical holiday bonus/gift for an in home daycare provider? There is the owner/lead and then two helpers. We are super tight on funds these days due to a job loss so while I adore these women, we don’t have a ton of extra. We have cancelled all holiday travel and not doing family presents so I can’t even cut from there. If folks are giving the equivalent of one week/ two weeks of pay, we just can’t swing that right now. An extra $300-750 is a lot for us now.

[Anonymous]

I give 300 to the main provider and 100 to the assistants.

[Anonymous]

Can you do $50 ea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you do $50 ea?

Yes just do this. There's no reason for some huge bonus, unless it's not a financial hardship.

[Anonymous]

We give what we pay biweekly ($800 for 1 kid) and divide it up with $350 for lead and $225 for each assistant. We cut into our kid’s Christmas (we have 3 only one in daycare still) to give. It’s by far our biggest holiday expense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the typical holiday bonus/gift for an in home daycare provider? There is the owner/lead and then two helpers. We are super tight on funds these days due to a job loss so while I adore these women, we don’t have a ton of extra. We have cancelled all holiday travel and not doing family presents so I can’t even cut from there. If folks are giving the equivalent of one week/ two weeks of pay, we just can’t swing that right now. An extra $300-750 is a lot for us now.

The parents at my boys day care organize a group donation for all of the teachers. Parents give whatever they are comfortable with, and it is all divided between the teachers and assistants. The first few years I gave $200. One year I organized the collection and I couldn’t believe how much the contributions vary. Parents gave anywhere from $10 to over $200. This is in a well-regarded day care center in Potomac. After that, I stopped being so generous. Daycare is super expensive. When I had two kids in full-time day care, my husband and I spent over $40K a year on day care. We don’t make a lot of money by DCUM standards, so our budget was super tight those years. Honestly I wonder sometimes if the people posting on here about giving one week’s pay to day care providers are the providers themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the typical holiday bonus/gift for an in home daycare provider? There is the owner/lead and then two helpers. We are super tight on funds these days due to a job loss so while I adore these women, we don’t have a ton of extra. We have cancelled all holiday travel and not doing family presents so I can’t even cut from there. If folks are giving the equivalent of one week/ two weeks of pay, we just can’t swing that right now. An extra $300-750 is a lot for us now.

The parents at my boys day care organize a group donation for all of the teachers. Parents give whatever they are comfortable with, and it is all divided between the teachers and assistants. The first few years I gave $200. One year I organized the collection and I couldn’t believe how much the contributions vary. Parents gave anywhere from $10 to over $200. This is in a well-regarded day care center in Potomac. After that, I stopped being so generous. Daycare is super expensive. When I had two kids in full-time day care, my husband and I spent over $40K a year on day care. We don’t make a lot of money by DCUM standards, so our budget was super tight those years. Honestly I wonder sometimes if the people posting on here about giving one week’s pay to day care providers are the providers themselves.

Also I will add that my center also does a collection for Teacher Appreciation Day and many parents give end of the year gifts. I can't afford to be shelling out hundreds of dollars three times a year. If I could, I would, but I can't so I won't. Just give what you can afford and don't feel bad about it.

[Anonymous]

I'm a a home daycare provider. Gifts range from $25 (often with an ornament or chocolates type gift) - one week's pay. I would never expect one week's pay. I don't spend that much on any one single member of my own family. My own Mother and Husband don't spend one week's pay gifting me. While very generous, I don't think it should be "guideline" at all.

I do put 1/2 of any bonuses directly back into the daycare.

[Anonymous]

I am also an in-home provider. My Christmas gifts have varied from a bag of home made cookies to gift cards of various amounts. I’ve never received an entire weeks pay and I’m always surprised when I see a suggestion on here. I think it’s extremely generous and if you can swing it, you should definitely do it but it’s not expected. However, I had a long time family who one year didn’t even bother to give me a Christmas card. I think they just forgot and at the time it definitely hurt a little bit that they forgot about me. I got over it pretty quickly but I still remember. Just don’t forget your home daycare provider even if it’s just a lovely card.

[Anonymous]

She gets one week's pay (300-400 dollars). My child also spends a lot of time making a fancy card for her and I write a nice letter with some of the things my child is able to do because of her. She is exceptional, though.

[Anonymous]

We do one week.

I think $50-100 per person is good.

[Anonymous]

My DC is only at the in-home daycare two days per week and things are a little tight right now. Any ideas on a suitable amount or gift?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We give what we pay biweekly ($800 for 1 kid) and divide it up with $350 for lead and $225 for each assistant. We cut into our kid’s Christmas (we have 3 only one in daycare still) to give. It’s by far our biggest holiday expense.

Did you read OP's post, or was this just a chance to blab about what "you" do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is only at the in-home daycare two days per week and things are a little tight right now. Any ideas on a suitable amount or gift?

How much can you reasonably afford?

There is no need to give a week's pay.

[Anonymous]

If you can't do a week's pay- $50 each. Or $75 to main and then $50 to others.

I'm in a similar spot, but I know the home daycare women are poorer than me. I'd rather tip them than anyone else on our entire list.