Anonymous wrote:First time mom, with a nine month old in center-based daycare. Our handbook says absolutely no tipping, food products only, and that staff can be fired for accepting tips. I sent Starbucks gift cards at Easter with a note that said oh COVID so this is safer than a food product...and no one seems to have lost their jobs. I really want to give a more generous cash or gift card gift when we go away for summer because some of the teachers have just done wonders for the baby— total bottle refusal to bottle pro, better naps, schedule, etc. but I don’t want anyone to lose their job! Is this a nod and a wink rule that everyone has and no one follows...?

No one lost jobs because the center director didn't find out. Why put the teachers at risk? It's not a nod and a wink. Your center is just unusual. Does it get subsidized by the government? Perhaps a military based center?

Anonymous wrote:Public schools have a $20 or $25 gift limit per teacher per year. Some parents are not aware of this, but it's in place for a reason. I would say that preschools can shut their eyes on similar gifts, to align themselves with public schools, but don't go over that. You can get the staff in trouble, definitely.

Really??? I had no idea!! My FCPS never communicated this to me when kid started kindergarten. I gave $75 in GC. To last year's teacher, I gave zero. Anyhow it makes sense, as they are public employees. I think federal employees have a $20 or so limit, and if they get a gift worth more than that, they have to report it. AFTER my old boss moved away, I gave her a bouquet of flowers that cost about $60. I got a thank you message and notification that she had to fill out paperwork reporting that gift!! It was just flowers that die in ten days! But I understand why a workplace can have such a policy.

As to daycare, that's odd. My center doesn't have that rule and parents even collect $10-$40 per family that wants to participate in pooling $ for a gift card for the many preschool teachers.

Op, since they explicitly said no cash/GC, I would give them an expensive food basket. There are so many good options!

Anonymous wrote:I don’t consider a gift card a tip. It’s a gift.

Thank you. No one should be using the term 'tipping' when thinking of their child's teachers and/or childcare providers. They're not waitstaff or valets at a restaurant. That's where tipping is considered appropriate.

This is super weird. Is this a chain daycare? Because most of them don’t pay a living wage either. Why are they trying to limit teacher appreciation?

I don’t consider a gift card a tip. It’s a gift.

We definitely don't have a rule like this. The norm is gift cards for the holidays, teacher appreciation week, etc.

Interesting. My private center-based daycare always inform parents ahead when it is Christmas holidays and teacher appreciation weeks, and they share every directors plus every teacher's favorite places to shop, favorite color, favorite snack/drink, favorite hobbies etc and also preferred not to receive items. And, sometimes, they ask parents to bring flowers or such to show appreciation.

Even on virtual zoom last year, they promote to ask kids to send physical card to teachers because teachers miss them. In other word , it means please also send in giftcard or gifts. I think it differs at different daycare, I just send in giftcard at their favorite shopping place, e.g. target and amazon, a card plus a tiny gift.

Public schools have a $20 or $25 gift limit per teacher per year. Some parents are not aware of this, but it's in place for a reason. I would say that preschools can shut their eyes on similar gifts, to align themselves with public schools, but don't go over that. You can get the staff in trouble, definitely.

First time mom, with a nine month old in center-based daycare. Our handbook says absolutely no tipping, food products only, and that staff can be fired for accepting tips. I sent Starbucks gift cards at Easter with a note that said oh COVID so this is safer than a food product...and no one seems to have lost their jobs. I really want to give a more generous cash or gift card gift when we go away for summer because some of the teachers have just done wonders for the baby— total bottle refusal to bottle pro, better naps, schedule, etc. but I don’t want anyone to lose their job! Is this a nod and a wink rule that everyone has and no one follows...?