Holiday gift ideas for daycare teachers

[Anonymous]

My boys started daycare this past month after being with a nanny for about two years. So we are very new to the daycare thing! What are appropriate gifts for their class teachers? Their class of 8 kids has two teachers, and one or two "floaters" that come by to help out.

[Anonymous]

I give $50 gift cards to Target. I'd do that for the main teachers and maybe $20 for the floaters? Depends on your budget. But honestly, they don't want trinkets or hand lotion. Just give them cash.

[Anonymous]

Cash.

Search the archives and you will see MANY long threads on this topic.

[Anonymous]

One week's tuition, divided up.

[Anonymous]

If you are new, a small token like $5-10 per teacher is nice. Ask the director if there is an organized collection for the floaters and support staff. Often one parent will take charge and then work with the Director to proportionally divide the money by hours worked the prior year.

[Anonymous]

Have a question about holiday gifts for daycare workers:

We literally started our daycare a week ago, our kid has only attended for 6 days. On day 3, we were part of an email blast to all daycare center parents asking for $120 per kid to be pooled for holiday gifts to the center's workers.

What's the proper etiquette here? We are paying $2500/month and our kid was already sick for two days. We've barely met anyone, aside from our kid's two primary caregivers.

[Anonymous]

I would say that you will join in next year, or just contribute $20 this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a question about holiday gifts for daycare workers:

We literally started our daycare a week ago, our kid has only attended for 6 days. On day 3, we were part of an email blast to all daycare center parents asking for $120 per kid to be pooled for holiday gifts to the center's workers.

What's the proper etiquette here? We are paying $2500/month and our kid was already sick for two days. We've barely met anyone, aside from our kid's two primary caregivers.

Unless you are planning to withdraw your child soon, it seems appropriate to participate unless this is a financial hardship for you. If so, you could email the person who sent the communication and let them know that it is a hardship because you did not budget for it. Ask if there is a gift at the end of the year you should be saving for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a question about holiday gifts for daycare workers:

We literally started our daycare a week ago, our kid has only attended for 6 days. On day 3, we were part of an email blast to all daycare center parents asking for $120 per kid to be pooled for holiday gifts to the center's workers.

What's the proper etiquette here? We are paying $2500/month and our kid was already sick for two days. We've barely met anyone, aside from our kid's two primary caregivers.

Speaking from the perspective of one of the parents who coordinates gift giving at my daycare, I personally would certainly understand if a brand new parent did not want to contribute that much. Though being brand new I might have contacted them separately rather than including them in the e-mail blast. The only issue would be how does that affect the teachers if they are getting less because one child happened to start right before the holiday. I wonder if the $120 amount was calculated assuming this brand new family would contribute?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a question about holiday gifts for daycare workers:

We literally started our daycare a week ago, our kid has only attended for 6 days. On day 3, we were part of an email blast to all daycare center parents asking for $120 per kid to be pooled for holiday gifts to the center's workers.

What's the proper etiquette here? We are paying $2500/month and our kid was already sick for two days. We've barely met anyone, aside from our kid's two primary caregivers.

Unless you *really* can't swing it, I would just give the $120. I know you just started, but they make so little for what is such a tough job. It doesn't matter that you haven't met anyone, the caregivers are still going to be there taking care of your kid all day.