We are getting ready to leave for preschool too, and I am much more teary about this than our baby even starting daycare! We love our little in-home provider and it is going to be so hard to leave.

I would write her a letter of recommendation that she can show perspective families with your contact info as a reference.

That's in addition to whatever gift you give her.

We are in the same boat, OP. Provider is moving (military) and DS is going to preschool (not quite 4...been at her house since 4 months!). They are a second family to DS.

I made a collage of pictures she has texted me over the years using Instagram and printed them and framed them with a nice mat. I used the scrapbooking stickers I found with a preschool theme at Michael's to decorate the mat and then put a picture of her whole family with my DS in the middle. I wrote "You are very special to me!" at the top. It turned out great. I also made little shadow box frames for her two children as they have really been pals to my DS. He's the only full timer she's had, so they've grown very close. I also made a little travel gift with candy, stickers and crayons for her kids since they are moving overseas and will be on a plane for a full day. I would try to make the gift personal. DH and I wrote in a card and DS made her and her kids cards. We've given money at Christmas, but that felt impersonal to me. I guess you could still give cash in addition to a cute framed picture or something.

Write her a letter to go with whatever gift you give, and be specific. Don't just say "Thanks". Say "I'll always remember the time you . . . " or "Because of you, little one is going off to school knowing . . . " or "It made such a difference when . . . "

Cash is a fine gift, daycare providers are way underpaid.

What is her name? My neighbor is desperate for a daycare provider.

We gave ours a framed picture of her and the kids and lots of cash.

We are leaving our very beloved daycare provider soon for preschool. This woman is really special. She has LOVED our child above and beyond. I'm so sad to leave her, and I need to do something really nice & thoughtful for her when we leave. Obv. money is always great. And we've given her lots of the same gifts repeatedly - GC to her fave nail salon, GC to restaurants, wine, money, etc. But I need something really thoughtful/sincere to show her how much we love her. I'm not a good "thoughtful" gift giver!